1. Which country won the 3rd SABA Women’s Basketball Championship title 2025?
[A] Sri Lanka
[B] Maldives
[C] India
[D] Nepal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
The Indian senior women’s basketball team won the 3rd SABA Women’s Basketball Championship 2025, defeating Maldives 107-32 in the final. This was India’s first participation in the SABA Women’s Championship. The tournament was organised by the South Asian Basketball Association and hosted by the Basketball Federation of India. It took place at KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, from 23-26 February 2025. The SABA Women’s Championship includes eight eligible countries: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
2. Who has been appointed as the chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in February 2025?
[A] Tuhin Kanta Pandey
[B] Mani Shankar
[C] Jitendra Kumar
[D] Balbeer Singh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tuhin Kanta Pandey]
Notes:
Tuhin Kanta Pandey, currently Finance and Revenue Secretary, replaces Madhabi Puri Buch as SEBI Chairman after her term ends on February 28, 2025. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved his appointment for three years or until further orders. A 1987-batch IAS officer from Odisha cadre, Pandey served as Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary from 2019 and became Finance Secretary in September 2024. He played a key role in Air India’s sale and LIC’s public listing.
3. Which institution has released the Quarterly House Price Index (HPI)?
[A] Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
[B] Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
[C] NITI Aayog
[D] Ministry of Finance
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]
Notes:
The RBI released its quarterly House Price Index (HPI) for the December 2024-25 quarter on February 27, 2025. The all-India HPI grew by 3.1% in Q3 2024-25, lower than 4.3% in the previous quarter and 3.8% a year ago. Data is based on transactions from 10 major cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai. Kolkata saw the highest annual HPI growth (8.1%), while Kanpur had the lowest (0.1%). On a quarterly basis, HPI rose by 0.4%, with most major cities recording a price increase.
4. Which institution has developed the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)?
[A] Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
[B] Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
[C] Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
[D] None of the Above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune]
Notes:
The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) on Aditya-L1 detected an X6.3-class solar flare, a highly intense solar eruption. SUIT is a remote sensing payload on ISRO’s Aditya-L1, India’s first solar mission. The mission was launched on September 2, 2023. Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) is developed by Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune with ISRO. SUIT captures full-disk and region-specific images of the Sun. It uses 11 calibrated filters across 200-400 nm wavelengths to study the Sun’s layers. It is positioned at Lagrange Point. It observes the Sun 24×7. SUIT studies solar atmosphere dynamics, focusing on jets, flares, filament evolution, and eruptions.
5. ‘Diyaslai’ is the autobiography of which Nobel Peace Prize laureate?
[A] Malala Yousafzai
[B] Kailash Satyarthi
[C] S. Chandrasekhar
[D] Mother Teresa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kailash Satyarthi]
Notes:
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion held a discussion on Diyaslai. Diyaslai is the autobiography of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, detailing his journey from Vidisha to his fight for child rights. Kailash Satyarthi, born in 1954 in Madhya Pradesh, has led global efforts against child slavery and exploitation in 140 countries. His organization has rescued over 1,38,000 children from child labour and trafficking. He highlighted that compassion is the key to solving global issues.
6. ‘Kota Cares initiative’ is associated with which state?
[A] Jharkhand
[B] Bihar
[C] Rajasthan
[D] Gujarat
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rajasthan]
Notes:
The Kota district administration, Rajasthan, announced reforms to address student stress and rising suicides among competitive exam aspirants. Kota Cares is a joint initiative launched in December 2024 by the administration, coaching institutes, hostel associations, and local communities. It aims to improve the educational ecosystem and student welfare in the city. The initiative is seen as a model for other educational hubs across India.
7. Pandoh Dam, which was seen in news, is located in which state?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Himachal Pradesh]
Notes:
Due to heavy rain and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) opened the spillway gates of Pandoh Dam as a precautionary measure. Pandoh Dam is an embankment dam located in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. It is built on the Beas River and primarily serves hydroelectric power generation. The dam is a concrete gravity structure, standing 76 meters (249 feet) tall.
8. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) operates under which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Finance
[B] Ministry of Earth Science
[C] Ministry of Mines
[D] Ministry of Science and Technology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Mines]
Notes:
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is celebrating its 175th year of geoscientific legacy. It was established in 1851 by Sir Thomas Oldham to locate coal deposits for the Railways. GSI provides geological expertise for policy-making, commercial, and socio-economic needs. It documents geological processes across India’s land and offshore areas. The organization conducts geological, geophysical, and geochemical surveys with advanced techniques. Its primary functions include updating geoscientific data and assessing mineral resources. GSI operates under the Ministry of Mines as an attached office.
9. Which ministry has launched Swavalambini initiative to promote women entrepreneurship in India?
[A] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
[B] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[C] Ministry of Finance
[D] Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship]
Notes:
The Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and NITI Aayog launched the Swavalambini initiative to promote women entrepreneurship. Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary launched it on 1st March 2025 at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. The initiative empowers female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with an entrepreneurial mindset, resources, and mentorship.
10. What kind of disease is Neonatal Sepsis that was recently seen in news?
[A] Respiratory disease
[B] Blood infection
[C] A genetic disorder
[D] A skin infection in newborns
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Blood infection]
Notes:
A Lancet Global Health study found that over a third of newborns with sepsis could die. Neonatal sepsis is a blood infection in infants under 90 days old, caused by bacteria like E. coli, Listeria, and Streptococcus. It is classified into early-onset (within 72 hours) and late-onset (after 3 days). Symptoms include temperature changes, breathing issues, and diarrhea. Treatment involves intravenous antibiotics in hospitals. Neonatal sepsis causes 5,50,000 deaths globally yearly, with India accounting for nearly one-fourth of these deaths.