11. Pepe Reina, who recently announced his retirement, is associated with which sports?
[A] Basketball
[B] Badminton
[C] Boxing
[D] Football
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Football]
Notes:
Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina has officially retired from professional football at the age of 42. He began his career at FC Barcelona in 2000 and later helped Villarreal qualify for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League. His most memorable spell was at Liverpool, where he played 394 matches, won the Football Association (FA) Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and received the Premier League Golden Glove three times. He made nearly 1,000 professional appearances and kept over 300 clean sheets in his 26-year career. Internationally, Reina earned 36 caps for Spain, winning the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in 2010 and UEFA European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
12. Which country has launched chip-based electronic passports to enhance travel security in May 2025?
[A] India
[B] Nepal
[C] Myanmar
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [India]
Notes:
India has launched chip-based e-passports as part of its digital transformation of travel documentation. These passports, embedded with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips and biometric data, aim to improve security, efficiency, and convenience for international travelers. The initiative, under the Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0, began on April 1, 2024. The new passports make India comparable to countries like the USA, UK, and Germany in using advanced e-passport technology. Features include enhanced security, RFID chips, scannable barcodes, and a tamper-proof design. The goal is to improve passport security, streamline immigration, and support India’s digital transformation.
13. With reference to the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU), recently inaugurated in India, consider the following statements:
- It is dedicated to monitoring and managing Athlete Biological Passports (ABPs).
- India is the first country in Asia to host such a unit.
- The APMU aims to enhance fairness in sports by detecting long-term doping patterns.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] All of them
[D] 2 and 3 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct as APMU’s role is to monitor and manage Athlete Biological Passports (ABPs).
Statement 2 is incorrect as India is not the first country in Asia to host such a unit, it hosts the 17th such unit globally.
Statement 3 is correct as the main purpose of APMU is to ensure fairness in sports by detecting long term doping patterns.
14. Consider the following initiatives and statements regarding the promotion of sports in India:
- Over 1,000 Khelo India centres are currently training athletes at the grassroots level.
- The Government of India is actively pursuing the opportunity to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Gujarat.
- Uttar Pradesh has already hosted the National Games multiple times under the Khelo India initiative.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] Only 2 and 3
[C] Only 1 and 3
[D] All of them
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1 and 2]
Notes:
Statement 3 is incorrect – Uttar Pradesh has not hosted the National Games under the Khelo India initiative in recent years. However, over 1,000 Khelo India centres are currently indeed training athletes at grassroot level, and the Government of India is actually hoping to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Gujarat. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
15. With reference to the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh inaugurated in Lucknow, consider the following statements:
- It aims to promote sports culture among youth, especially from small towns.
- It is a national-level tournament exclusively for Olympic-qualified athletes.
- Students from classes 9 to 12 participate in the junior category.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]
Notes:
The event aims to promote sports culture among youth, especially from smaller towns and students between classes 9 to 12 participate in the junior category, thus statements 1 and 3 are correct. However, statement 2 is incorrect as the tournament is not exclusive to Olympic-qualified athletes but encourages grassroots participation.
16. Which state government has launched the ‘One KGBV, One Sport’ scheme to promote sports in Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools (KGBVs)?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Bihar
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Haryana
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Uttar Pradesh]
Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the “One Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya One Sport” scheme to promote sports among girls studying in Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools (KGBVs). The scheme aims to give special sports training and promote the physical, mental, and social growth of girls from backward and underprivileged communities. It will help these girls prepare to compete at the national level in sports. In the pilot phase, two KGBV schools from each of the 73 districts, except Kanpur Dehat which has one, will be included. A sports committee in every school will select one sport based on the students’ interest and available resources. Sports experts will provide special training, and health check-ups and awareness sessions on nutrition and hygiene will be held.
17. Hari Dutt Kapri, who recently passed away, was associated with which sports?
[A] Basketball
[B] Football
[C] Kabaddi
[D] Boxing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Basketball]
Notes:
Former Indian basketball captain Hari Dutt Kapri passed away at the age of 83 at his residence. He was born in 1942 in Chiiriyakhan village, Muwani area, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. Kapri led the Indian basketball team from 1965 to 1978, helping it rise from 7th to 4th position in Asia in 1969. He was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1969 for his outstanding contribution to Indian sports. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Uttarakhand government. His mortal remains were cremated at Rameshwar Ghat.
18. Vandana Katariya, who recently announced her retirement, is associated with which sports?
[A] Hockey
[B] Badminton
[C] Wrestling
[D] Boxing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hockey]
Notes:
Indian women’s hockey stalwart Vandana Katariya has announced her retirement from international hockey after a career spanning over 15 years. She played 320 international matches and scored 158 goals, making her the most-capped player in Indian women’s hockey history. Vandana made her senior team debut in 2009. She became the first and only Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Olympics. She received the Arjuna Award in 2021 and the Padma Shri in 2022 for her contributions to Indian hockey. She received the Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
19. Where was the 18th All India Police Shooting (Sports) Championship 2024-25 held?
[A] Pune, Maharashtra
[B] Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
[C] Indore, Madhya Pradesh
[D] Jaipur, Rajasthan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Indore, Madhya Pradesh]
Notes:
The 18th All India Police Shooting (Sports) Championship 2024-25 was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, from 24 to 29 March 2025. It was organized at Revati Range, Indore, by the Central School of Armament & Warfare Skills (CSWT), Sisubal. The All India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) oversaw the event. The last competition was held in Pune, Maharashtra, in 2019. Around 600 male and female shooters participated. A total of 17 competitions were held for 204 medals. Teams from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and various state police forces participated.
20. B. Sumeeth Reddy, who recently announced his retirement, is associated with which sports?
[A] Boxing
[B] Table Tennis
[C] Badminton
[D] Wrestling
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Badminton]
Notes:
B Sumeeth Reddy announced his retirement from professional badminton to focus on coaching. He was part of India’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. In men’s doubles, he partnered with Manu Attri, reaching a career-high world ranking of 17. He won gold at the 2016 South Asian Games and qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. His achievements include titles at the 2015 Mexico City Grand Prix and 2016 Canada Open. In mixed doubles, he partnered with top Indian players, finishing runner-up at the 2017 Syed Modi International.
