41. What is ‘Indiaphonte bijoyi’ that was recently seen in news?
[A] Traditional medicine
[B] Invasive weed
[C] Bacteria
[D] Crustacean
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Crustacean]
Notes:
Recently, a new microscopic crustacean named Indiaphonte bijoyi was discovered in the Kavaratti lagoon of the Lakshadweep islands. It is a tiny crustacean belonging to the family Laophontidae under the Copepoda class. The species lives within sediments of aquatic environments, making it a sediment-dwelling organism. It has a semi-cylindrical and slightly flattened body, broader at the centre and narrowing towards the rear end. It is classified as meiofauna, meaning very small invertebrate animals measuring less than one millimetre in size.
42. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), that was recently seen in news, is primarily found in which region of India?
[A] Northern India
[B] Southern India
[C] Eastern India
[D] Western India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Southern India]
Notes:
A 29-year-old man in Karnataka died after contracting Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also called monkey fever. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic disease mostly found in southern India, first reported in 1957 from Kyasanur Forest, Karnataka. The virus belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, part of the tick-borne encephalitis complex. It is called monkey fever due to its association with monkey deaths.
43. Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located in which state?
[A] Sikkim
[B] Ladakh
[C] Arunachal Pradesh
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ladakh]
Notes:
A rare blood-red aurora was recorded at the Indian Astronomical Observatory using an all-sky camera in Hanle, Ladakh. Hanle Dark Sky Reserve is located at about 4,500 metres altitude in the Changthang region of Ladakh. It lies within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and has Bortle-1 category skies, the darkest level. It was notified in December 2022 and is India’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. The reserve is managed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics under the Department of Science and Technology. It aims to reduce light pollution and promote astro-tourism for local livelihoods.
44. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) was established under which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Science and Technology
[B] Ministry of Earth Sciences
[C] Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
[D] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Earth Sciences]
Notes:
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) will launch three new ocean services: Jellyfish Artificial Intelligence Information Platform (JellyAIIP), SAMUDRA 2.0 Mobile Application, and Seamless Information Visualization and Analysis System (SIVAS) along with a new logo. It was established as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is located in Hyderabad, Telangana. It provides ocean information and advisory services through continuous ocean observations and focused research. It runs the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), issuing tsunami alerts within 10 minutes for India and 28 Indian Ocean countries.
45. Which country launched iLive Connect, the world’s first doctor-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) healthcare ecosystem?
[A] India
[B] France
[C] Malaysia
[D] Singapore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
India launched iLive Connect, the world’s first doctor-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) healthcare ecosystem for continuous home-based clinical monitoring. It bridges gaps in chronic disease care and post-hospital recovery, especially for elderly and remote-area patients. The system uses medical-grade wearable biosensors, a chest patch and wristband, to track ECG, heart rate, respiration, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), temperature, blood pressure trends, activity, sleep, and heart rate variability. Data is sent in real time to a 24×7 medical command centre staffed by specialist doctors.
46. Amazon India has partnered with which institution to develop packaging materials from agricultural waste?
[A] IIT Delhi
[B] IIT Kanpur
[C] IIT Roorkee
[D] IISc Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [IIT Roorkee]
Notes:
Amazon India partnered with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop non-wood paper packaging from agricultural waste. The project will convert crop residues like wheat straw and bagasse into recyclable and home-compostable packaging materials. It aims to reduce stubble burning, lower dependence on imported virgin wood pulp, and create extra income for farmers. Research will be led by Department of Paper and Packaging Technology and INNOPAP Lab at IIT Roorkee over 15 months.
47. India’s first government-supported National Biobank for Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) was launched in which state?
[A] Gujarat
[B] Maharashtra
[C] Haryana
[D] Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gujarat ]
Notes:
India’s first government-supported National Biobank for Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) was launched in February 2026 at the Foundation for Research in Genetics and Endocrinology (FRIGE) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). This facility stores biological samples and data from 530 patients across 15 states to advance research, develop affordable diagnostic tools, and improve treatment for rare metabolic disorders.
48. Panama disease, which was recently in the news, primarily affects which crop?
[A] Banana
[B] Coconut
[C] Sugarcane
[D] Rubber
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Banana]
Notes:
Scientists discovered a gene that may protect bananas from Panama disease. Panama disease is also called Fusarium wilt. It is caused by fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense living in soil for many years. It mainly affects Cavendish or G9 banana cultivar, most widely grown variety. Fungus infects through roots and blocks water and nutrient transport. Due to severe impact, it is called banana cancer. Symptoms include yellowing of older leaves, turning brown and dry. Stem becomes dark brown and plant finally dies. Dead leaves hang around lower stem forming skirt-like structure.
49. Which organisation recently launched the AI image generation model “Nano Banana 2”
[A] Microsoft
[B] OpenAI
[C] Meta
[D] Google
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Google]
Notes:
Google launched Nano Banana 2, its new Artificial Intelligence image generation and editing tool. It is also called Gemini 3.1 Flash Image and replaces Nano Banana Pro with faster performance and high-quality results. It improves text rendering, subject consistency and real-time web content integration. It is integrated across Google Search AI Mode, Google Lens, AI Studio, Gemini Application Programming Interface and Vertex AI. It is available in 141 more countries including India.
50. Meningococcal infection, that was recently seen in news, is caused by which agent?
[A] Bacteria
[B] Virus
[C] Fungus
[D] Protozoa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bacteria]
Notes:
Recently, the Meghalaya government issued an advisory after a meningococcal infection scare, urging people to avoid crowded places and follow health protocols. Meningococcal infection is a severe and rapidly progressing disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis, which is inflammation of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcemia, which is blood poisoning. It spreads through respiratory and throat secretions like saliva during close or prolonged contact. It is less contagious than common cold or flu infections.