31. Which institution has launched “Impact RISE initiative” for societal change in November 2025?
[A] IIT Roorkee
[B] IIT Bombay
[C] IIT Ahmedabad
[D] IIT Kharagpur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [IIT Kharagpur]
Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur launched Impact RISE (Research, Innovation, Skilling and Entrepreneurship) initiative in November 2025. The initiative focuses on sustainable technology and management for large scale social transformation. It was announced as IIT Kharagpur’s national pledge during its Platinum Jubilee year. The vision is to build in labs, test on campus, and expand solutions across India and the world. Impact RISE rests on four pillars which are research, innovation, skilling and entrepreneurship.
32. Where was Uttarakhand’s first Grey Smart Toilet inaugurated?
[A] Nainital
[B] Almora
[C] Haldwani
[D] Dehradun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Dehradun]
Notes:
Uttarakhand inaugurated its first Grey Smart Toilet in Prem Nagar, Dehradun, designed for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The facility features sensor-based automated functions, wheelchair-friendly ramps, supportive grab bars, anti-skid flooring, and low-height fixtures for safety and comfort. It includes IoT-based monitoring, automatic flushing, water-level sensors, and an app-linked dashboard for maintenance alerts, reducing manual supervision. The initiative promotes dignified, accessible sanitation and will be replicated across pilgrim and tourist circuits like Char Dham routes.
33. Which state has become the first in India to implement the “Easy Registry” system to make land registration simple, fast and transparent?
[A] Punjab
[B] Gujarat
[C] Haryana
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Punjab]
Notes:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched the “Easy Registry” system to make land registration simple, fast and transparent. Punjab became the first state in India to introduce this facility to reduce corruption in property registration. Property registration, earlier slow and complex, is now fully digitised and time-bound. Any sub-registrar office in a district can now register property located anywhere in the same district. Citizens can draft sale deeds online or at Sewa Kendras by paying a fee of ₹500. Under the “Sarkar Tuhade Dwaar” scheme, citizens can call 1076 for doorstep service.
34. What is the name of the initiative launched in Nagaland to revive traditional water bodies and strengthen water-harvesting systems?
[A] Jal Jeevan Mission
[B] Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN
[C] Har Ghar Jal Abhiyan
[D] Swachh Nagaland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN]
Notes:
The Government of India launched State-Level Watershed Mahotsav 2025 and Mission Watershed PUNARUTTHAN at Kohima, Nagaland, to revive traditional water bodies, restore degraded lands, and strengthen water-harvesting systems for long-term water security. The mission focuses on community participation and convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to ensure sustainable rural livelihoods. Minister of State (MoS) Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar stated that “water security is national security” and highlighted the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations. Nagaland is leading community-driven watershed management through restoration of springs, renovation of water-harvesting structures, and rejuvenation of land resources.
35. Which state has been declared Naxalism-free in December 2025?
[A] Chhattisgarh
[B] Jharkhand
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government announced that the state is now free of Naxalism following the surrender of two Maoist militants in Balaghat district. The achievement is credited to the national mission to eliminate Naxalism by 2026, supported by central guidance. The announcement was made under the ‘Rehabilitation to Rejuvenation’ campaign, aimed at reintegrating surrendered Naxalites into mainstream society.
36. The Paliyar tribe is primarily found in which states?
[A] Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh
[B] Rajasthan and Gujarat
[C] Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
[D] Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tamil Nadu and Kerala]
Notes:
Seventeen families of the Paliyar Tribe in Dindigul district petitioned the District Collector to recognise their settlement as a formal village. The Paliyar Tribe is an indigenous community living mainly in the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are also known as Paliyans, Pazhaiyarares, and Panaiyars, based on region and history. Traditionally, they lived across Dindigul district and the Sirumalai and Palani hills near the Western Ghats. They speak a Tamil-related Dravidian dialect.
37. Recently, where was Jyoti–Bishnu International Art Centre inaugurated?
[A] Assam
[B] Sikkim
[C] Meghalaya
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Assam]
Notes:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the Jyoti–Vishnu International Art Centre in Guwahati, Assam. The Art Centre, costing around ₹291 crore, has a seating capacity of 5,000 and honors cultural icons Jyoti Prasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala made Assam’s first film, Joymoti, laying the foundation of Assamese cinema. He linked music, theatre, and literature with patriotism, inspiring self-respect and freedom consciousness among the people of Assam. Bishnu Prasad Rabha strengthened the freedom movement through art, connecting workers, farmers, and tribal communities.
38. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is planned to operate between which two cities?
[A] Delhi – Mumbai
[B] Guwahati – Howrah
[C] Chennai – Bengaluru
[D] Patna – Kolkata
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Guwahati – Howrah]
Notes:
Indian Railways will introduce its first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, upgrading overnight rail travel in India. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that testing and certification are fully completed. The inaugural route will run between Guwahati (Assam) and Howrah (West Bengal). The train will have 16 fully air-conditioned coaches with AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC First Class, carrying about 823 passengers. It features ergonomic berths, new suspension, and modern safety systems for comfortable overnight journeys. The service will boost regional connectivity and offer Assamese and Bengali cuisine on board.
39. Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project is located on which river?
[A] Mandakini
[B] Alaknanda
[C] Kosi
[D] Tons
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Alaknanda]
Notes:
Recently, around 60 people were injured when a loco train carrying workers hit a goods train inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. The Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (VPHEP) is a run-of-river hydropower project on the Alaknanda River, a major tributary of the Ganga River, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The project will generate about 1,665 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. It is developed by THDC India Limited, a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, with World Bank funding.
40. According to Ministry of Agriculture, India has surpassed which country to become the world’s largest rice producer?
[A] China
[B] Japan
[C] Indonesia
[D] Thailand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [China]
Notes:
India has become the world’s largest rice producer, surpassing China with a total output of 150.18 million tonnes. The announcement was made by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The achievement reflects improved farming practices and effective agricultural policies. Use of high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties has boosted production. Alongside this milestone, 184 new varieties of 25 different crops were released. These new varieties aim to increase crop productivity and farmer incomes. The initiative strengthens India’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.