1. Who has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner in February 2025?
[A] Gyanesh Kumar
[B] Alok Banerjee
[C] Bhaskar Khulbe
[D] Balbeer Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gyanesh Kumar]
Notes:
Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), replacing Rajiv Kumar. He is a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre and senior to the other commissioners. Vivek Joshi has been appointed as Election Commissioner; he was the former Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner. This is the first appointment under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioner Act, 2023.
2. Which state’s forest project has won the SKOCH Award for improving forest ecosystems?
[A] Odisha
[B] Nagaland
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nagaland]
Notes:
Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) won the SKOCH Award 2024 at the 100th SKOCH Summit on February 15, 2025, in New Delhi. The award was received by ANGO Konyak and Venni Konyak on behalf of Nagaland’s Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC). NFMP focuses on forest conservation, jhum rehabilitation, and sustainable livelihoods. The SKOCH Award is an award given by the SKOCH Group to recognize people, projects, and institutions that make India a better nation.
3. Who has been named as the only Indian woman in TIME Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025 list?
[A] Vandana Shiva
[B] Medha Patkar
[C] Purnima Devi Barman
[D] Kiran Mazumdar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Purnima Devi Barman]
Notes:
Purnima Devi Barman, an Indian biologist and wildlife conservationist, is named in TIME Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025 list. She is the only Indian woman on the list, alongside global figures like Nicole Kidman and Gisele Pelicot. The award recognizes extraordinary leaders working for a more equitable and sustainable world. Barman is known for her efforts in conserving the greater adjutant stork (Hargila). Her work has transformed both environmental and social landscapes, making a significant impact on wildlife conservation.
4. 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.
5. Who won the Stockholm Water Prize 2025?
[A] Jacob Bear
[B] Paul Witherspoon
[C] Gunter Bloschl
[D] Yuan Daoxian
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gunter Bloschl]
Notes:
Gunter Bloschl, a renowned hydrologist, won the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize for his research on flood risks and climate change impacts. The Stockholm Water Prize is a prestigious global award recognizing achievements in water science, management, and protection. It is presented by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Established in 1991 during the Stockholm Water Festival, it highlights Sweden’s commitment to clean water. The award honors individuals or organizations contributing to water conservation, management, and sustainability across science, engineering, policy, and environmental advocacy.
6. Which country recently honoured Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its highest civilian award, Mitra Vibhushana?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Indonesia
[C] Nepal
[D] Bhutan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the ‘Mithra Vibhushana’ medal from the Government of Sri Lanka for strengthening India-Sri Lanka ties and shared cultural heritage. This is the highest civilian honour of Sri Lanka, instituted in 2008 by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The award was given by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at a ceremony in Colombo. It is the 22nd international award given to PM Modi by a foreign nation. The medal features the Dharma Chakra for Buddhist heritage, Pun Kalasa for prosperity, Navarathna for deep friendship, and the Sun and Moon for eternal relations.
7. Who has become the first Indian to receive the Fred Darrington Sand Master Award?
[A] Ankon Mitra
[B] Mrinalini Mukherjee
[C] Sudarsan Pattnaik
[D] Ashwini Bhat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sudarsan Pattnaik]
Notes:
Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik became the first Indian to receive the Fred Darrington Sand Master Award for excellence in sand art. The award was presented at the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival in Dorset, England, marking the 100th birth anniversary of British sculptor Fred Darrington. To celebrate, Pattnaik made a 10-foot-high sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha with the message of “World Peace”. A Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, he has taken part in over 65 international sand art events, gaining global fame for his spiritual and social themes. The Sandworld exhibition at Lodmoor Park features global artists using only sand and water to craft giant sculptures.
8. Daripalli Ramaiah, the famous environmentalist who recently passed away, was from which state?
[A] Andhra Pradesh
[B] Karnataka
[C] Telangana
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Telangana]
Notes:
Daripalli Ramaiah (1937-2025), a famous environmentalist from Reddipalli village, Telangana, passed away recently. He was locally known as ‘Chetla Ramaiah’ or Vanajeevi (forest dweller). He was honored with the Padma Shri in 2017 for his significant contributions to environmental conservation. Ramaiah was a strong advocate for social forestry, having planted over 1 crore saplings in his lifetime. He was known as the “tree-man”, often wearing a green board to promote tree conservation. His awards include the Seva Award (1995), Vanamitra Award (2005), and National Innovations and Outstanding Traditional Knowledge Award (2015).
9. Which agency was recently honoured with the Udyog Vikas Award at the Udyog Vikas event organised by Janmabhumi Daily in Kerala?
[A] Invest India
[B] National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC)
[C] Indian Infrastructure Corporation
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC)]
Notes:
Recently, the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) received the Udyog Vikas Award at the Udyog Vikas event organized by Janmabhumi Daily in Kerala. The National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) is India’s major infrastructure project aimed at developing new industrial cities as Smart Cities with next-generation technologies. The NICDC acts as the nodal agency responsible for managing the entire programme and ensuring seamless execution. The NICDP focuses on attracting investments from both large industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to boost industrial growth. It supports the government’s vision of achieving $2 trillion in exports by the year 2030.
10. Who has been appointed as the chairman of National Security Advisory Board (NSAB)?
[A] Brajesh Mishra
[B] J. N. Dixit
[C] Maheshwar Rao
[D] Alok Joshi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Alok Joshi]
Notes:
The government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) after the Pahalgam terror attack, appointing former intelligence chief Alok Joshi as chairman. National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) is an advisory body under the National Security Council (NSC) structure. It is chaired by the Prime Minister, supported by the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). Established in 1998 after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests, it institutionalized India’s national security framework. The NSAB provides non-partisan strategic inputs on national security issues but is not a decision-making body. It reports to the NSCS and includes experts from various sectors.