1. What is Alpenglow, recently seen in the news?
[A] A new type of mountain
[B] A natural phenomenon involving the illumination of mountain slopes by the sun
[C] An environmental organization
[D] A rare flower discovered in mountain regions
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [A natural phenomenon involving the illumination of mountain slopes by the sun]
Notes:
Astronaut Lora O’Hara on the International Space Station captured Alpenglow near the Hindu Kush. This natural phenomenon occurs during sunrise or sunset, casting rosy, reddish, or orange hues on mountain slopes. Alpenglow’s colors vary due to the sun’s angle and atmospheric conditions. Vibrancy depends on sun location, light angle, clouds, humidity, and particulates. The phenomenon rapid changes make it a captivating spectacle during the twilight hours.
2. Agasthyagama edge, which was seen in the news, belongs to which one of the following species?
[A] Snake
[B] Kangaroo lizard
[C] Wolf spider
[D] Frog
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kangaroo lizard]
Notes:
Scientists recently discovered a new kangaroo lizard species, Agasthyagama edge, in the Western Ghats. Named after the EDGE program, it’s the second in the Agasthyagama genus. Found in Kulamavu, Idukki, it belongs to the Agamidae family. These terrestrial reptiles, lacking a fifth toe for climbing, prefer leaf-covered areas. Averaging 4.3 cm in length, they are fast runners feeding on small insects, and they hide within dry leaves to avoid predators. The species is significant for its distinctiveness and global endangerment.
3. Recently, which neurotechnology company has embedded the first computer chip in a human brain?
[A] Neuralink
[B] Kernel
[C] Blackrock Neurotech
[D] Neurable
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Neuralink ]
Notes:
Neuralink is the first company to implant a computer chip in a human brain. Neuralink is a neurotechnology company founded in 2016 by Musk and seven other scientists and engineers. The company’s implant, known as the “Link,” is a small device that’s surgically placed inside the human brain. Neuralink says its device can interpret neural activity so a person can operate a computer or smartphone by simply thinking. The company ultimately hopes to use the brain-machine interface to restore sensory and motor functions in people with disabilities, treat neurological conditions like dementia and depression, and even enable telepathic communication.
4. Which state government has recently launched a ‘Mass Drug Administration’ campaign to eliminate filariasis?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Madhya Pradesh
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uttar Pradesh ]
Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is launching the Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign from February 5 to 15 to eradicate filariasis. This initiative covers 17 districts and involves door-to-door visits by health workers to administer preventive medication, excluding specific demographics. The Chief Minister emphasizes active public participation, warns of filariasis symptoms, and advocates preventive medicine intake. The government is committed to eliminating filariasis by 2027, providing training for patient management, and involving Community Health Officers in the mission.
5. What is Fentanyl, recently mentioned in the news?
[A] A type of drug
[B] Invasive plant
[C] Artificial intelligence tool
[D] Asteroid
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [A type of drug]
Notes:
A recent discussion between the United States and China have focused on joint efforts to combat the influx of fentanyl into the U.S. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid (a type of drug), has wreaked havoc in America and is linked to ingredients produced in China. The drug, 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) -approved for severe pain but is also illegally manufactured and sold recreationally, often mixed with other drugs, posing a high risk of addiction and fatality in large doses or when combined.
6. Subika paintings, which were seen in the news, are linked to which community’s cultural history?
[A] Bhils
[B] Gonds
[C] Meitei
[D] Chiru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Meitei ]
Notes:
The Subika painting style, intricately linked to Meitei cultural history, faces near extinction due to neglect. Its survival depends on six manuscripts—Subika, Subika Achouba, Subika Laishaba, Subika Choudit, Subika Cheithil, and Thengrakhel Subika. Subika Laishaba is a vital continuation of Meitei tradition through visual images. Despite Manipur’s historical significance, Subika paintings, estimated to date back to the 18th or 19th century, highlight a decline in visual arts, emphasizing the need for preservation efforts.
7. Lake Rotorua, recently seen in the news, is located in which country?
[A] France
[B] New Zealand
[C] Australia
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [New Zealand]
Notes:
New maps reveal a hidden hydrothermal system under Lake Rotorua, at a dormant volcano’s heart in New Zealand. Hydrothermal systems, common near convergent plate boundaries and mid-ocean ridges, need fluids, heat, and permeability. Seawater percolates through oceanic crust, heating to 350-400°C, producing chemically modified hydrothermal fluid. Ejected to the seafloor, it forms chimney-like deposits, supporting deep-sea chemosynthetic communities. This discovery highlights the dynamic geological processes beneath the lake, providing insights into hydrothermal systems’ intricate workings.
8. Which country recently adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing?
[A] Angola
[B] Gabon
[C] Cameroon
[D] Rwanda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Cameroon ]
Notes:
Cameroon recently adopted the Nagoya Protocol, a global agreement enforcing access and benefit-sharing obligations outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity. Adopted in 2010 and effective since 2014, the Protocol establishes a legal framework facilitating fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resource utilization. It supports biodiversity-based research, ensuring researchers access resources for biotechnology while indigenous communities receive fair returns, respecting the value of traditional knowledge linked to genetic resources.
9. Recently, where the Geological Institute of Israel was uncovered underwater canyon named ‘Eratosthenes’?
[A] Near Oman
[B] Near Cyprus
[C] Near Egypt
[D] Near Iraq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Near Cyprus]
Notes:
The Geological Institute of Israel discovered an unknown underwater canyon near Cyprus dating back to the Messinian Event, also known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). Lasting from approximately 6 to 5.3 million years ago, MSC occurred when the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea was cut off, leading to a severe drying up of the Mediterranean. The resulting large canyon, deeper than the Grand Canyon, formed as water evaporated, leaving behind salt deposits and causing a deadly increase in salinity. The MSC concluded with the Zanclean flood, restoring the connection with the Atlantic.
10. The term ‘ULLAS’, recently seen in the news, is related to which one of the following?
[A] New India Literacy Program
[B] National Policy for Rural Women
[C] National Policy for Children
[D] National Environment Policy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [New India Literacy Program]
Notes:
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the two-day ULLAS Mela at the National Bal Bhavan in New Delhi. Organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy, the event showcases national and state-level activities under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram. With 700 participants and 100 dignitaries, the government’s New India Literacy Program, spanning 2022 to 2027, targets individuals aged 15 and above for foundational literacy, numeracy, life skills, and vocational development, emphasizing “Jan-Jan Sakshar” for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society.