1. Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) was created by which organization?
[A] World Bank
[B] Global Health Council
[C] World Health Organization (WHO)
[D] United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [World Health Organization (WHO)]
Notes:
A recent study by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) showed that many multidrug-resistant infections in low- and middle-income countries, including India, are not being treated properly due to lack of access. GARDP is a not-for-profit organization that creates new antibiotic treatments for drug-resistant bacterial infections and ensures they reach people in need. It focuses on public health by developing antibiotics to fight the current antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis and protect future generations. GARDP was founded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) under the Global Action Plan on AMR in 2015.
2. Which is the nodal ministry for the National Medical Register (NMR), a centralized digital database?
[A] Ministry of Education
[B] Ministry of Science and Technology
[C] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[D] Ministry of Social Justice
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]
Notes:
Less than 1% of doctors in India have registered with the National Medical Register (NMR) eight months after its launch. National Medical Register (NMR) is a centralized digital database that includes all licensed allopathic (MBBS) doctors in India. It was launched in August 2024 under Section 31 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is the nodal ministry for the NMR. The NMR aims to create a comprehensive registry of all allopathic doctors in India, ensuring transparency and accountability in the medical field. It also enhances public trust, helps in credential verification, and aids in policy planning for healthcare.
3. Igla-S is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) developed by which country?
[A] Russia
[B] China
[C] France
[D] India
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Correct Answer: A [Russia]
Notes:
India has recently received a new shipment of Russian Igla-S air defence missiles amid rising tensions with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. Igla-S is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) developed by Russia. It is a hand-held system that can be used by one person or a small crew. It is designed to shoot down low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.
4. Which country has become the first in the world to develop Genome-edited rice varieties?
[A] Japan
[B] China
[C] India
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [India]
Notes:
India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed two such varieties named DRR Rice 100 (Kamla) and Pusa DST Rice. These rice varieties were developed using genome editing technology based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR Associated Protein (CRISPR-Cas). This technology allows precise changes in the genetic material without adding any foreign DNA. Genome editing targeted the Site Directed Nuclease 1 (SDN1) and SDN2 types of genes, which are approved under India’s biosafety rules. The development was supported by the National Agricultural Science Fund (NASF), which funds strategic agricultural research.
5. Mount Ontake is an active stratovolcano located in which country?
[A] Indonesia
[B] Japan
[C] Philippines
[D] Malaysia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Japan]
Notes:
Scientists from the University of Oxford have suggested a new way to monitor volcanic eruptions using a method called shear-wave splitting. Shear-wave splitting happens when seismic waves travel at different speeds depending on their direction, especially through rocks with tiny cracks. This technique was studied at Mount Ontake in Japan, which is an active stratovolcano located on Honshū Island, near Tokyo. Mount Ontake is Japan’s second-highest volcano and lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
6. Safa Masjid, which was seen in the news, is located in which state?
[A] Goa
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Uttar Pradesh
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Goa]
Notes:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to begin repair work on the damaged mihrab structure around the old water tank at Safa Masjid in Ponda, Goa. Safa Masjid, also called Safa Shahouri Masjid, is a historic mosque built in 1560 by Sultan Adil Shah of Bijapur. It is one of the few Islamic monuments in Goa that survived the Portuguese colonial period, during which many religious sites were destroyed. The mosque is known for its architectural and cultural value and is declared a national monument under the protection of ASI. The recent decision by ASI follows months of delay and brings hope for the preservation of this heritage site.
7. Pulitzer Prize is associated with which field?
[A] Sports
[B] Journalism
[C] Entertainment
[D] Agriculture
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Journalism]
Notes:
The Pulitzer Prizes 2025 were recently announced by the Pulitzer Prize Board to honor excellence in journalism and the arts. The Pulitzer Prize is considered the most prestigious award in journalism in the United States. It was established in the year 1917 and is administered by Columbia University. The award is overseen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, which consists of judges appointed by Columbia University. The prize is named after Joseph Pulitzer, a famous newspaper publisher who left funds in his will to create the School of Journalism and the Pulitzer Prize.
8. IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) is a joint mission of which two space agencies?
[A] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA)
[B] European Space Agency (ESA) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
[C] National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Italian Space Agency
[D] Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Italian Space Agency
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Italian Space Agency]
Notes:
NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) recently solved the mystery behind X-ray emissions in black hole jets. IXPE is a joint satellite mission by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Italian Space Agency, launched on December 9, 2021. It is the first satellite designed to measure the polarisation of X-ray light, helping scientists study extreme cosmic environments. The mission focused on blazars, which are a type of active galactic nucleus with a supermassive black hole ejecting a powerful jet of particles aimed toward Earth.
9. World Athletics Day is celebrated on which day every year?
[A] May 6
[B] May 7
[C] May 8
[D] May 9
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [May 7]
Notes:
World Athletics Day is celebrated every year on May 7 to promote participation in sports, especially among the youth. It highlights the benefits of sports on both mental and physical health and encourages values like perseverance and teamwork. The event was first observed on May 15, 1996, by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now called World Athletics since 2019. The idea was introduced by Primo Nebiolo, the then IAAF president, and saw participation from 50 countries. This year, World Athletics Day 2025 falls on a Wednesday and continues to promote inclusivity and environmental awareness through sports.
10. Anak Krakatau volcano, that was recently seen in news, is located in which country?
[A] Japan
[B] Ethiopia
[C] Philippines
[D] Indonesia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Indonesia]
Notes:
A new study reveals that Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano, which collapsed in 2018 causing a deadly tsunami, showed warning signs years in advance. Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa,” is located in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It is a stratovolcano, formed by alternating layers of solidified lava and ash. The volcano sits at the convergent boundary between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Anak Krakatau is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone around the Pacific Ocean. In December 2018, its southwest flank collapsed, generating a tsunami that killed over 400 people and caused widespread destruction.