1. Which airport won the “Best Domestic Airport” award at Travel Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024?
[A] Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar
[B] Manohar International Airport, Goa
[C] Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi
[D] Jorhat Airport, Assam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Manohar International Airport, Goa]
Notes:
Manohar International Airport (GOX) won the ‘Best Domestic Airport’ title at the Travel Leisure India’s Best Awards 2024. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi, recognizing GOX as a top domestic aviation hub in India. A global survey with over 1,86,000 participants evaluated airports on accessibility, security, dining, shopping, and design. GOX excelled in all categories, becoming the preferred choice for domestic travelers. The airport features Goan cultural elements, modern amenities, and flexible flight schedules for comfort and convenience.
2. Recently, who becomes the youngest female to climb highest peaks in all 7 continents?
[A] Pragati Bisht
[B] Kaamya Karthikeyan
[C] Sanaya Gupta
[D] Kirti Rawat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kaamya Karthikeyan]
Notes:
Kaamya Karthikeyan, 17, became the youngest female to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents, completing the Seven Summits Challenge. She reached Mount Vinson in Antarctica on December 24, 2024, at 17:20 Chilean Standard Time with her father, Cdr S Karthikeyan. Previously, she scaled Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mt Elbrus (Europe), Mt Kosciuszko (Australia), Mt Aconcagua (South America), Mt Denali (North America), and Mt Everest (Asia). A Class 12 student at Navy Children School, Mumbai, Kaamya’s achievements have been praised by the Indian Navy and Prime Minister Modi. Her journey inspires young adventurers worldwide.
3. K. S. Manilal, who recently passed away, was associated with which field?
[A] Journalism
[B] Taxonomy
[C] Sports
[D] Politics
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Taxonomy]
Notes:
K S Manilal, a renowned taxonomist and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on 1st January 2025 in Thrissur, Kerala. He is celebrated for translating and annotating Hortus Malabaricus, a 17th-century Latin botanical treatise on the flora of Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa. Manilal spent 35 years making the 12-volume work accessible to academics during his tenure as a botany professor at the University of Calicut (1976–1999). His contributions include 198 research papers, 15 books, and extensive work on medicinal plants and taxonomy. He played a key role in conserving Kerala’s Silent Valley rainforest in the 1980s.
4. Who has been appointed as the new space secretary and chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation?
[A] Prahlad Chandra Agrawal
[B] Anil Bhardwaj
[C] V Narayanan
[D] Shiv Prasad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [V Narayanan]
Notes:
Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), has been appointed as the new ISRO Chairman and Space Secretary. He will succeed S. Somanath on January 14, 2025, for a two-year term or until further orders. Dr. Narayanan, a propulsion expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and has worked on projects like ASLV, PSLV, GSLV Mk-II, and GSLV Mk-III. He chaired the expert committee for Chandrayaan-2’s hard landing and delivered propulsion systems for Chandrayaan-3. His predecessor, S. Somanath, led major missions, including Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and Gaganyaan’s first flight.
5. Who was honored with the Maharaja Hari Singh Award 2025 in Reforms and Planning?
[A] Narendra Modi
[B] Manoj Sinha
[C] Rajnath Singh
[D] Piyush Goyal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Manoj Sinha]
Notes:
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha received the Maharaja Hari Singh Award in Reforms and Planning at a grand ceremony in Jammu. The event was organized by Gulistan News Network as part of the Maharaja Hari Singh Peace and Harmony Award 2024-25 celebrations. The award recognized LG Sinha’s contributions to reforms and planning in Jammu and Kashmir. He paid tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, highlighting his role in J&K’s integration with India. He also honored Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, Pandit Girdhari Lal Dogra, and Shri Devender Singh Rana for their dedication to public welfare. Maharaja Hari Singh was praised as a key architect of modern Jammu and Kashmir for his revolutionary reforms.
6. Which organization recently received the award for its 2024 voter awareness campaign during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024?
[A] Doordarshan
[B] NDTV
[C] NewsNation
[D] Sansad TV
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Doordarshan]
Notes:
Doordarshan received an award for its voter awareness campaign during the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. It won in the Electronic Media category for its special series “Chunav Ka Parv Desh Ka Garv”. The initiative helped educate first-time voters and strengthened India’s democratic process. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Doordarshan’s Director-General Kanchan Prasad on Republic Day 2025. The award recognizes Doordarshan’s commitment to responsible media outreach across India.
7. Which state won the best tableau award at the 76th Republic Day 2025?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Punjab
[C] Himachal Pradesh
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
Uttar Pradesh’s Mahakumbh tableau won the best tableau award at the 76th Republic Day celebrations. Tripura’s tableau on Kharchi Puja secured second place, followed by Andhra Pradesh’s tableau on Etikoppaka Bommalu wooden toys. Jammu & Kashmir Rifles won best marching contingent among services, while Delhi Police topped in the CAPF/auxiliary forces category. Ministry of Tribal Affairs won for its Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh tableau. Special prizes were given to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for its Constitution of India tableau and the Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam Dance Group.
8. Who has been posthumously honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in the Dogri language category?
[A] Madhav Kaushik
[B] Chaman Arora
[C] Gulzar Singh Sandhu
[D] Namita Gokhale
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chaman Arora]
Notes:
The government posthumously honored Chaman Arora with the Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 in the Dogri language category. He received the award for his book Ik Hor Ashwthama. The Ministry of Culture confirmed the selection based on a unanimous jury recommendation. Sahitya Akademi President Madhav Kaushik approved the decision. The award includes a casket with an engraved copper plaque and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. Arora’s family will receive the award at a special event on March 8 in New Delhi.
9. Which company won the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category?
[A] NTPC Ltd
[B] Tata Power
[C] BHEL
[D] Reliance Industries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [NTPC Ltd]
Notes:
NTPC Ltd. won the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category. The award was presented by UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) in Chennai on February 13. NTPC was recognized for its water conservation and sustainable water management initiatives. The award aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NTPC follows Reduce, Reuse & Recycle principles and uses advanced wastewater treatment. It promotes clean water access, restores water bodies, and raises conservation awareness. The company sets industry benchmarks in water efficiency and sustainability.
10. 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.