1. Which organization recently released the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR), 2023?
[A] DRDO
[B] ISRO
[C] CSIR
[D] ICAR
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ISRO]
Notes:
ISRO released the Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) highlighting a rise in space object population. ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM), operational since 2022, ensures ISRO’s space asset safety. Globally, 3143 objects were launched, with five major break-up events. India launched 127 satellites by 2023 and successfully conducted seven ISRO missions, including Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L-1. Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres increased to protect spacecraft from close approaches.
2. Which country has recently rejected nearly one-third of Indian spice-related shipments due to salmonella contamination?
[A] Myanmar
[B] United States
[C] Russia
[D] Iran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United States]
Notes:
The United States has rejected nearly one-third of shipments from Mahashian Di Hatti Pvt Ltd (MDH) since October 2023 due to salmonella contamination. Salmonella, a bacteria found in animals’ intestines and feces, causes gastrointestinal illness. It spreads to humans through contact with contaminated items or animals. Salmonella can survive for weeks in dry environments and months in water. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with severe cases requiring medical attention.
3. Which state recently launched a digital water distribution system for agricultural fields?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Maharashtra
[D] Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Rajasthan]
Notes:
Rajasthan introduced a digital water distribution system for agriculture, employing “Barabandi,” a fixed turn method for canal water distribution. The new online “barabandi” system, developed by NIC Jaipur, allows scheduled irrigation supply accessible remotely. Farmers can track water flow to their fields, reducing manual errors. This innovation aims to optimize water usage and enhance agricultural efficiency in Rajasthan.
4. La Cumbre volcano, recently seen in news, is located in which island?
[A] Galápagos
[B] Lakshadweep
[C] Borneo
[D] Vancouver
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Galápagos ]
Notes:
Recent lava from La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina Island, Galápagos, devastates the habitat of rare land iguanas. Positioned atop the mantle plume generating Galápagos, it erupted for the first time since 2020. The island, 1,125 km off Ecuador’s mainland, boasts a large caldera hosting a permanent lake, attracting diverse wildlife, including tens of thousands of Galápagos land iguanas nesting within it.
5. Red Colobus Conservation Action Plan, recently seen in news, is an initiative of which organization?
[A] IUCN
[B] WMO
[C] WHO
[D] WWF
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [IUCN]
Notes:
A new study highlights Red colobus as key to tropical forest conservation. Imperiled across Africa, they’re vital biodiversity indicators and one of two major simian groups globally. Facing extinction due to hunting and habitat loss, over half are Endangered or Critically Endangered. The Red Colobus Conservation Action Plan, led by IUCN, aims to prioritize their conservation, safeguarding Africa’s forests and curbing unsustainable hunting.
6. Which country has recently proposed to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug?
[A] United States
[B] China
[C] India
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United States]
Notes:
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposes reclassifying marijuana from Schedule-I to Schedule-III, less tightly regulated. President Biden’s suggestion aims to align marijuana regulation with its medical potential, contrasting with Schedule-I categorization alongside heroin and LSD. Despite pending scrutiny by White House Officials and public commentary, the move signals a shift toward acknowledging marijuana’s therapeutic benefits backed by scientific evidence.
7. What is the purpose of the MoU recently signed between RailTel Corporation of India and the tech firm?
[A] To explore and deliver KAVACH implementation projects in India and other countries
[B] To develop a new version of KAVACH
[C] To develop a new railway lines
[D] To manufacture train engines
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [To explore and deliver KAVACH implementation projects in India and other countries]
Notes:
RailTel Corporation of India has partnered with a tech firm to implement KAVACH, an indigenous Automatic Train Protection System, in India and abroad. Developed by RDSO in collaboration with the Indian industry, KAVACH operates at Safety Integrity Level – 4 with a remarkably low error probability. Its features include centralized train movement monitoring, automatic overspeed prevention, and SOS message relaying.
8. Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani, recently seen in the news, are disputed territories between which two countries?
[A] Nepal & Bhutan
[B] India & Nepal
[C] India & Myanmar
[D] India & Bhutan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India & Nepal]
Notes:
Nepal introduced a new Rs 100 currency note featuring disputed Indian territories—Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani—triggering contention from India. Prime Minister Prachanda chaired a meeting where the decision was made. Rekha Sharma, also the communication minister, announced the update following Nepal Rastra Bank’s proposal. The move follows tensions since Nepal’s 2020 political map included these areas. India had included them in its 2019 map, leading to diplomatic strains, notably over a road construction.
9. Recently, who has been appointed as Secretary at Director level in the National Jute Board, Kolkata, under the Ministry of Textiles?
[A] Ajay Kumar
[B] Rajeev Saxena
[C] Shashi Bhushan Singh
[D] Arvind Kumar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shashi Bhushan Singh]
Notes:
Shashi Bhushan Singh, an Indian Railway Traffic Service officer, has been appointed as Secretary (Director level) of the National Jute Board in Kolkata by the Central Government. The appointment is for 5 years or until further notice. Established under the National Jute Board Act, 2008, the NJB began operations on April 1, 2010, consolidating the Jute Manufactures Development Council and the National Centre for Jute Diversification.
10. Which institute recently conducted a study on coral bleaching in the Lakshadweep Sea?
[A] Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur
[B] ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
[C] National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)
[D] Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)]
Notes:
The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) reports severe coral bleaching in the Lakshadweep Sea due to prolonged marine heatwaves since 2023. Rapid warming in the Indian Ocean, coupled with strong El Niños, has increased heatwave frequency, now annual in the tropical region. The western Indian Ocean saw the highest rise, with about 1.5 events per decade, followed by the north Bay of Bengal at 0.5 events per decade. In 2020, 85% of corals in the Gulf of Mannar bleached.