1. 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.
2. Dr K Kasturirangan, who recently passed away, was former chairman of which organization?
[A] Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
[B] Food Corporation of India (FCI)
[C] Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
[D] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]
Notes:
Dr. K. Kasturirangan, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), passed away at 84 in Bengaluru. He was a key architect of India’s National Education Policy. Dr. Kasturirangan played a major role in developing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), India’s most reliable satellite launcher. He led ISRO for over nine years, stepping down as Chairman in August 2003. Dr. Kasturirangan served as Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Chairman of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission. He was also a Rajya Sabha member from 2003 to 2009 and Director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru.
3. Who has won the 2025 World Food Prize?
[A] Shakuntala Haraksingh
[B] Surinder Vasal
[C] Yuan Longping
[D] Mariangela Hungria
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mariangela Hungria]
Notes:
Recently, Brazilian microbiologist Mariangela Hungria was named the 2025 World Food Prize Laureate. She developed seed and soil treatments using beneficial bacteria like rhizobia and Azospirillum brasilense. These innovations help soybeans fix nitrogen naturally and boost root growth in crops like corn for better nutrient and water uptake. The World Food Prize is the top international award for those improving food quality, quantity, or access. It was established in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Often called the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture, it carries a $500,000 reward and is given in October.
4. Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, who recently passed away, was associated with which profession?
[A] Astrophysicist
[B] Industrialist
[C] Politician
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Astrophysicist]
Notes:
Eminent astrophysicist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar passed away in Pune on May 20, 2025, at the age of 87. He was known for his pioneering work in cosmology, science communication, and institution-building in India. In 1988, he founded the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and served as its Director until 2003. He received the Kalinga Award from UNESCO in 1996 for popularising science through books, articles, and media. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1965, Padma Vibhushan in 2004, and Maharashtra Bhushan in 2011. In 2014, his Marathi autobiography won the Sahitya Akademi Award for regional literature.
5. Which gram panchayat won the gold medal in digital governance category under the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025?
[A] Palsana Gram Panchayat, Gujarat
[B] Rohini Gram Panchayat, Maharashtra
[C] West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura
[D] Suakati Gram Panchayat, Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rohini Gram Panchayat, Maharashtra]
Notes:
On June 6, 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances launched a new category in the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025. The category is called “Grassroots Level Initiatives for Deepening Service Delivery at Gram Panchayats or Equivalent Traditional Local Bodies.” It honors Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for their digital efforts to improve ease of living and citizen-centric service delivery. From more than 1.45 lakh entries, four Gram Panchayats were awarded: Rohini (Maharashtra) won Gold; West Majlishpur (Tripura) won Silver; and Palsana (Gujarat) and Suakati (Odisha) won Jury Awards. Winners receive a trophy, certificate, and up to ₹10 lakh to further improve their public welfare projects.
6. Maruti Chitampalli, who passed away recently, was associated with which profession?
[A] Environmentalist
[B] Journalist
[C] Politician
[D] Industrialist
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Environmentalist]
Notes:
Renowned environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee Maruti Chitampalli, also known as ‘Aranya Rishi’, passed away at 93 in Solapur, Maharashtra due to age-related issues. He devoted his life to forests, wildlife, and environmental literature, earning national recognition. He was honoured with the Padma Shri by the President of India on April 30, 2025. Chitampalli served in the Forest Department for 36 years and travelled over 5 lakh kilometres across India for research. His scientific works include ‘Pakshikosha’ (Birds), ‘Pashukosha’ (Animals), and ‘Matsyakosha’ (Fish).
7. Which senior journalist was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Ministry of Home Affairs in June 2025?
[A] Shekhar Gupta
[B] Rajdeep Sardesai
[C] Ram Bahadur Rai
[D] Madhavrao Bagal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ram Bahadur Rai]
Notes:
Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, a renowned journalist and President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust, was recently awarded the ‘Padma Bhushan’ by Shri Satpal Chauhan, Director General, Ministry of Home Affairs. As Shri Rai could not attend the official ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the award was presented at the IGNCA office in the presence of Director Shri Pandey Pradeep Kumar and senior officials. The award included a citation with the signature and seal of the President of India and a medal. Shri Rai also serves as Chancellor of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, and guides many other institutions.
8. Who has become the first woman and first African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)?
[A] Joyce Banda
[B] Wangari Maathai
[C] Bonang Matheba
[D] Kirsty Coventry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Kirsty Coventry]
Notes:
Recently, Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe made history by becoming the first female and first African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its 130-year history. Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist in swimming, won the election in one round with 49 out of 97 votes, beating Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. and other candidates. She aims to focus on athlete rights, gender equality, and the sustainability of the Games. She has pledged to expand Olympic participation, especially in Africa, and engage youth.
9. The JCB Prize, which has been discontinued recently, is associated with which field?
[A] Journalism
[B] Sports
[C] Literature
[D] Agriculture
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Literature]
Notes:
Recently, the Indian literary world was shocked as the JCB Prize for Literature has been officially discontinued. The award, worth Rs 25 lakh for the best fiction work by an Indian author, ended with no future editions planned. It was established in 2018 by JCB India. The prize promoted Indian fiction and translations, awarding five out of seven winners for translated works in languages like Malayalam, Tamil, and Urdu. The JCB Prize, though short-lived, made a strong impact on regional literature and India’s literary ecosystem.
10. Who has been appointed as the next Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)?
[A] Parag Jain
[B] Amarendra Singh
[C] Rajeev Krishna
[D] Ajay Pal Sharma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Parag Jain]
Notes:
Recently, the government appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Punjab cadre, as the new Secretary of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) for two years. Jain will replace Ravi Sinha, a 1988-batch IPS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, whose term ends on June 30, with Jain taking charge on July 1. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet approved his posting under the Cabinet Secretariat as per service rules. Jain currently leads the Aviation Research Centre, which gathered key intelligence during Operation Sindoor on Pakistan’s terror camps.