Instructions: Answer the following questions, then check the answers at the end.

1. Which country has launched a new visa category called the “K Visa” to attract foreign science and technology talent?

   a) Japan

   b) Australia

   c) China

   d) Russia

2. The Sujalam Bharat Summit is a national initiative led by which ministry?

   a) Ministry of Agriculture

   b) Ministry of Jal Shakti

   c) Ministry of Environment

   d) Ministry of Tourism

3. Varkala Cliff, recently placed in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites, is located in which state?

   a) Andhra Pradesh

   b) Maharashtra

   c) Kerala

   d) Tamil Nadu

4. Which institution discovered the new finless snake eel, Apterichtus kanniyakumari?

   a) Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)

   b) Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

   c) Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

   d) National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR)

5. The ‘Capacity Building and Human Resource Development’ scheme is implemented by which institution?1

   a) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)2

   b) University Grants Commission (UGC)3

   c) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)4

   d) N5ITI Aayog

6. Which ministry launched the ‘Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025’, India’s largest school hackathon?

   a) Ministry of Education

   b) Ministry of Skill Development

   c) Ministry of Science and Technology

   d) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

7. A new plant species named Impatiens selvasinghii was recently discovered in which region of India?

   a) Himalayas

   b) Western Ghats

   c) Northeastern region

   d) Chota Nagpur plateau

8. Which state government has announced a ₹1,000 monthly allowance for unemployed youth under the Chief Minister’s Self-Help Allowance Scheme?

   a) Uttar Pradesh

   b) Bihar

   c) Rajasthan

   d) Gujarat

9. The foundation stone of India’s first PM MITRA Park was laid in which state?

   a) Uttar Pradesh

   b) Madhya Pradesh

   c) Rajasthan

   d) Gujarat

10. Which organisation has launched the enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 system?6

    a) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)7

    b) Export Promotion Council (EPC)8

    c) Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)9

    d) Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIE10O)

11. Who among the following has won the Men’s singles title in the recently held Australian Open 2025?

    a) Jannik Sinner

    b) Alexander Zverev

    c) Novak Djokovic

    d) Carlos Alcaraz

12. The Polavaram Multipurpose Project, recently in the news, is located in which state?

    a) Kerala

    b) Karnataka

    c) Andhra Pradesh

    d) Maharashtra

13. The Indian Navy is set to commission its second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), named Androth, at the Naval Dockyard in which city?

    a) Visakhapatnam

    b) Mumbai

    c) Kochi

    d) Chennai

14. The ‘Gyan Bharatam’ portal has been launched by whom?

    a) Narendra Modi

    b) Nitin Gadkari

    c) Draupadi Murmu

    d) Amit Shah

15. What is the theme for the 3rd Global Food Regulators Summit 2025?

    a) Food Security for All

    b) Evolving Food Systems – Yatha Annam Tatha Manah

    c) One World, One Food

    d) Sustainable Food Practices

Answers:

1. c) China
2. b) Ministry of Jal Shakti
3. c) Kerala
4. d) National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR)
5. a) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
6. a) Ministry of Education
7. b) Western Ghats
8. b) Bihar
9. b) Madhya Pradesh
10. c) Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
11. a) Jannik Sinner
12. c) Andhra Pradesh
13. a) Visakhapatnam
14. a) Narendra Modi
15. b) Evolving Food Systems – Yatha Annam Tatha Manah

4. Today’s Top 20 Headlines with Explanations 🗞️

1. Leh Remains Tense as Protest Turns Violent: Following the death of four people in violent protests, Leh remains under tension with a curfew in place. Authorities have handed over the bodies of the victims to their families and are conducting a crackdown on those suspected of being involved in the violence.
2. Centre Revokes FCRA Licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO: The Union Home Ministry has canceled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license of an organization founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, citing alleged violations. This comes amid ongoing protests in Ladakh for statehood and constitutional safeguards.
3. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to Sign Tejas Jet Deal: The government is poised to finalize a massive deal worth ₹66,500 crore with state-owned HAL for 97 new Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets. This acquisition will be a significant boost to the Indian Air Force’s capabilities and the “Make in India” defense initiative.
4. Supreme Court Raps Madhya Pradesh Government and CBI: The Supreme Court has criticized the Madhya Pradesh government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for their delay in arresting police officers involved in a custodial death case. The court emphasized the need for swift action and accountability.
5. Donald Trump Threatens Mass Layoffs Amid Government Shutdown: In the U.S., President Donald Trump has warned of mass layoffs in federal agencies if a government shutdown occurs. This highlights the political deadlock in Congress over passing a new funding agreement.
6. Former Chhattisgarh CM’s Son Arrested in Alleged Liquor Scam: Chaitanya Baghel, the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been arrested by the Economic Offences Wing/Anti-Corruption Bureau (EOW/ACB) in connection with an alleged liquor scam.
7. PM Modi Inaugurates UP International Trade Show: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show (UPITS) 2025 in Greater Noida, aiming to showcase the state’s potential and attract global investors.
8. India’s Last MiG-21 Bids Adieu: The Indian Air Force’s iconic MiG-21 fighter jet is set for its final send-off after over six decades of service. The retirement of this legendary aircraft marks the end of an era for the IAF.
9. Global Food Regulators Summit Begins in New Delhi: The 3rd Global Food Regulators Summit 2025, organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has begun in New Delhi. The summit’s theme focuses on the evolution of food systems and their impact on health.
10. Agnikul Cosmos Opens India’s First Rocket 3D Printing Facility: Indian space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos has launched the country’s first rocket 3D printing facility in Chennai, a significant step towards developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities in the private space sector.
11. Karun Nair Slams Ajit Agarkar Over Test Career: Cricketer Karun Nair has expressed his frustration with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, hinting at unfair treatment that has seemingly ended his Test career.
12. Denmark Airports Face ‘Systematic Hybrid Attack’ from Drones: Multiple airports in Denmark have been forced to suspend flights due to mysterious drone sightings. Officials have labeled the incidents as a “systematic hybrid attack,” raising serious security concerns.
13. India’s First Indigenous Photonic Radar Developed by DRDO: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed India’s first indigenous photonic radar, a breakthrough technology with applications in missile and air defense systems.
14. Trump Proposes 100% Tariff on Pharma Imports: President Donald Trump has announced a proposal to impose a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical imports, a move that could significantly impact countries like India, a major exporter of generic drugs.
15. Merriam-Webster Adds 5,000 New Words to Dictionary: The latest update to the Merriam-Webster dictionary includes 5,000 new words, such as ‘rizz’ and ‘petrichor,’ reflecting the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the English language.
16. Palestine President Vows to Work with Trump on Gaza Peace Plan: The President of Palestine has expressed his readiness to work with Donald Trump on a new peace plan for Gaza, following a UN General Assembly declaration aimed at a two-state solution.
17. Central Railway Announces 15-Day Mega Block: The Central Railway has announced a 15-day mega block starting today for maintenance work, which will affect several train services and cause disruptions for commuters.
18. U.K. to Introduce Digital IDs for All Adults: The new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, plans to introduce a system of digital IDs for all adults, which will be checked against a central database for employment verification and other services.
19. Azim Premji Rejects CM’s Request to Open Wipro Road: Wipro founder Azim Premji has declined the Karnataka Chief Minister’s request to open the company’s campus road to the public to ease traffic, citing security and business continuity concerns.
20. Suryakumar Yadav Attends ICC Hearing over ‘Pahalgam’ Comment: Indian cricket captain Suryakumar Yadav attended an ICC hearing regarding his comments after a match against Pakistan, where he dedicated the victory to the armed forces and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.