1. ‘Diyaslai’ is the autobiography of which Nobel Peace Prize laureate?
[A] Malala Yousafzai
[B] Kailash Satyarthi
[C] S. Chandrasekhar
[D] Mother Teresa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kailash Satyarthi]
Notes:
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion held a discussion on Diyaslai. Diyaslai is the autobiography of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, detailing his journey from Vidisha to his fight for child rights. Kailash Satyarthi, born in 1954 in Madhya Pradesh, has led global efforts against child slavery and exploitation in 140 countries. His organization has rescued over 1,38,000 children from child labour and trafficking. He highlighted that compassion is the key to solving global issues.
2. Boris Spassky, who recently passed away, was associated with which sports?
[A] Badminton
[B] Boxing
[C] Wrestling
[D] Chess
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Chess]
Notes:
Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky, the 10th World Chess Champion, has passed away at 88. Spassky was known for his strategic brilliance, sportsmanship, and deep understanding of chess. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), he became an International Grandmaster in 1955. In 1969, he defeated Tigran Petrosian to become the World Chess Champion. Spassky was famous for his versatile playing style, excelling in both positional and attacking games.
3. Which Indian leader recently received the ‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’ award?
[A] External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar
[B] Prime Minister Narendra Modi
[C] Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
[D] Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Prime Minister Narendra Modi]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados award. The award recognizes his strategic leadership and assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the highest national honors of Barbados, given for significant contributions to the country or international relations.
4. Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, who recently passed away, was associated with which field?
[A] Politics
[B] Sports
[C] Music
[D] Science and Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Music]
Notes:
Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, noted classical singer and former Asthana Vidwan (court musician) of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), passed away at 76 due to a heart attack in Tirupati. Served TTD from 1978 to 2006 and composed music for 1,000+ compositions of saint-poet Tallapaka Annamacharya. His famous works include Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnukatha, Pidikita Thalambrala Pellikoothuru, and Jagadapu Chanavula Jajara, also featured in the Telugu film Annamayya.
5. Which organization received the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution 2024?
[A] Prasar Bharati
[B] Sports Authority of India
[C] Discovery India
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Prasar Bharati]
Notes:
Prasar Bharati received the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award 2024 for promoting and broadcasting hockey. The award was given at the Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 in New Delhi. Hockey India honored the 1975 World Cup-winning squad with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award and ₹50 lakh. Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh won the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024.
6. Who has been chosen for the highest civilian award of the Maharashtra government ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ 2024?
[A] Ram Sutar
[B] Krishna Reddy
[C] Satish Sinha
[D] Ashwini Bhat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ram Sutar]
Notes:
Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar has been selected for the Maharashtra Bhushan 2024, the highest civilian award of Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the award on March 20, 2025, in the state legislative assembly. A committee led by the Chief Minister unanimously chose him for the honor. Ram Sutar, a gold medalist from J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, is a master of bronze sculpting. He designed the Statue of Unity, a 182m tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Kevadia, Gujarat. He created the seated Mahatma Gandhi statue in India’s Parliament and Gandhi busts in 450+ cities worldwide. His 108-ft statue of Kempa Gowda stands at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Previously, he received the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contributions to art.
7. Who has been elected as chairman of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in March 2025?
[A] Ashok Singh Thakur
[B] Vikrant Sinha
[C] Yash Patel
[D] Tanmoy Sen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ashok Singh Thakur ]
Notes:
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was held on 22nd March 2025 in New Delhi. Elections for the post of Chairman and Governing Council members were conducted successfully. Shri. Ashok Singh Thakur was elected as Chairman for a 3-year term. INTACH, India’s premier heritage conservation organisation, was established on 27th January 1984. It is a national registered Society under the Societies Registration Act (1860). INTACH works to conserve heritage, environment, and intangible culture while providing financial and technical expertise. The INTACH Charter, adopted in 2004, is being revised for interdisciplinary heritage conservation.
8. Which state has been awarded the Future Conservationist Award for the conserving the Malabar Grey Hornbill?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Karnataka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kerala]
Notes:
Researchers from Kerala received the Future Conservationist Award by the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) for their work on saving the Malabar Grey Hornbill. The CLP is a global partnership between Fauna & Flora International, BirdLife International, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The award supports young conservationists with less than five years of experience by offering funding and expert guidance. The Malabar Grey Hornbill is a bird found only in the Western Ghats of India, mostly at elevations above 50 meters from sea level. Its International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status is Vulnerable, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction.
9. Kumudini Lakhia, who recently passed away, was associated with which classical dance?
[A] Kathak
[B] Manipuri
[C] Mohiniyattam
[D] Odissi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kathak]
Notes:
Renowned Kathak dancer Kumudini Lakhia passed away at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of innovation in Indian classical dance. Kathak, derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Katha’, means ‘story’, and is a classical dance form traditionally focused on mythological storytelling. Kumudini Lakhia transformed Kathak from a solo narrative form to a group ensemble, introducing contemporary and non-narrative elements. She received the Padma Shri (1987), Padma Bhushan (2010), and Padma Vibhushan (2024) for her contributions to Indian dance.
10. Who has been appointed as the Chairperson of the 23rd Law Commission of India in April 2025?
[A] Dinesh Maheshwari
[B] Mukundakam Sharma
[C] Jatindra Prasad Das
[D] Hrishikesh Roy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dinesh Maheshwari]
Notes:
The Central Government has appointed former Supreme Court (SC) judge, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, as chairman of the 23rd Law Commission. The commission was notified on September 2 last year and will function for three years till August 2027. Its role includes submitting a report on Uniform Civil Code (UCC), studying laws affecting the poor, and identifying laws that hinder India’s economic growth. The 23rd Law Commission will have one chairman, four full-time members including a member secretary, two secretaries from the Law Ministry, and up to five part-time members. Justice Maheshwari retired from the Supreme Court in May 2023. The previous 22nd Law Commission was headed by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who left early after being appointed as a member of the Lokpal. During his term, the panel used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse over 80 lakh public petitions regarding the Uniform Civil Code.