1. Who has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in May 2025?
[A] N.C. Shrivastava
[B] Atul Sinha
[C] Ajay Kumar
[D] Nilanjan Sanyal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ajay Kumar]
Notes:
Former Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body under Part XIV of the Indian Constitution. Articles 315 to 323 define the composition, powers, functions, appointment, and removal of UPSC members. The Chairman and other members of the UPSC are appointed by the President of India. Each member holds office for six years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever is earlier. A former member of a Public Service Commission cannot be reappointed to the same office.
2. Dr M.R. Srinivasan, who recently passed away, was associated with which major national programme?
[A] Blue Revolution
[B] Nuclear Programme
[C] Green Revolution
[D] Chandrayaan 3 mission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nuclear Programme]
Notes:
Dr M.R. Srinivasan, a key architect of India’s civilian nuclear programme, passed away at the age of 95 on 20 May. He was a technocrat with strong engineering skills and a vision for building scientific institutions. He joined the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955, just a year after it was formed. He worked closely with Dr Homi Bhabha, the father of India’s nuclear programme, to develop Apsara, India’s first nuclear research reactor, which became operational in 1956. In 1959, he became Principal Project Engineer and led India’s early efforts in nuclear power generation. He received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to nuclear energy. His legacy reflects excellence in engineering and dedication to national scientific self-reliance.
3. 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.
4. Who has been elected as the President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly?
[A] Annalena Baerbock
[B] Paulina Kubiak
[C] Johannes Cullmann
[D] Audrey Azoulay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Annalena Baerbock]
Notes:
Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on June 2. She won the secret ballot with 167 votes, while 14 countries chose to abstain. Baerbock is the first woman from the Western European group and the fifth woman overall to lead the UN General Assembly. The 80th session begins on September 9, 2025, and will focus on global crises and reforms like the UN80 initiative and choosing the next Secretary-General before 2026.
5. Who has been conferred with the 2024 Mathrubhumi Literary Award?
[A] K.R. Meera
[B] Subhash Chandran
[C] Sarah Joseph
[D] Krishna Chaithanya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sarah Joseph]
Notes:
Prominent writer Sarah Joseph has received the 2024 Mathrubhumi Literary Award. The award was presented by Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Ray in Kozhikode. It includes ₹3 lakh cash, a citation, and a sculpture by M. V. Devan. Sarah Joseph was appreciated for her fearless voice in Malayalam literature and social issues. She earlier won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Sahitya Akademi Awards.
6. Which country recently honoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its highest civilian award, Order of Makarios III?
[A] France
[B] Croatia
[C] Canada
[D] Cyprus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Cyprus]
Notes:
On June 16, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus’s highest civilian honour. The award was conferred by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides during PM Modi’s visit to the country. The honour is named after the first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, and represents strong bilateral ties. PM Modi dedicated the award to the 1.4 billion people of India and the friendship between India and Cyprus.
7. Who has become the first woman officer to be appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India?
[A] Akshita Gupta
[B] Madhuri Kanitkar
[C] Yashaswi Solanki
[D] Prerna Deosthalee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Yashaswi Solanki]
Notes:
Lieutenant Commander Yashaswi Solankee, aged 27, became the first woman officer to be appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India. The President usually has five ADCs — three from the Indian Army, and one each from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. Until now, no woman officer had ever served in this prestigious role. Solankee, from Bharuch in Gujarat, was selected in April 2025 and completed a month-long orientation. She received her aiguillette from President Droupadi Murmu after training. The ADC manages presidential schedules, attends all ceremonies, and serves as a 24/7 liaison with government and military.
8. Which country’s startup, NitroCapt, won the 2025 Food Planet Prize?
[A] Sweden
[B] Norway
[C] India
[D] Poland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sweden]
Notes:
The Swedish startup NitroCapt won the 2025 Food Planet Prize for their innovative green fertilizer technology. This technology uses plasma and renewable energy to extract nitrogen from the air, eliminating the need for fossil fuels in fertilizer production. The $2 million prize, awarded by the Curt Bergfors Foundation, will help NitroCapt scale up its operations and further disrupt the global nitrogen fertilizer industry.
9. Which country recently conferred its highest civilian award “Officer of the Order of the Star” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
[A] Ghana
[B] Guyana
[C] Egypt
[D] Cyprus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ghana]
Notes:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a five-nation tour, was awarded Ghana’s highest civilian honour, the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ghana in over 30 years. With this, PM Modi has now received top civilian honours from 24 countries, the highest for any Indian leader. PM Modi dedicated this award to 1.4 billion Indians, especially the youth, cultural heritage, and diversity.
10. Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi, who recently passed away, was related to which classical dance?
[A] Kathakali
[B] Odissi
[C] Manipuri
[D] Mohiniyattam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Manipuri]
Notes:
Recently, Manipuri classical dancer and Padma Shri awardee Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi passed away at age 85 after prolonged illness at her home in Keishampat, Imphal West. She was one of the 113 Padma Shri recipients this year. She joined Aryan Theatre as a child artist and performed in the Soviet Union in 1954. Later, she performed in China, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. She trained under Padma Meishnam Amubi and joined Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA).