Q1. Which of the following Indian elements have been inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
- Only ancient performing arts like Kutiyattam and Chhau.
- Only religious festivals such as Diwali and Durga Puja.
- A combination of performing arts, sacred traditions, community practices, crafts, festivals, and contemporary cultural expressions.
- Only local culinary traditions.
Correct Option: 3. A combination of performing arts, sacred traditions, community practices, crafts, festivals, and contemporary cultural expressions.
Explanation:
India’s UNESCO ICH inscriptions cover a wide spectrum:
• Performing Arts: Kutiyattam, Chhau
• Sacred Traditions: Vedic chanting, Buddhist chanting in Ladakh
• Community Practices: Ramlila, Ramman, Sankirtana
• Crafts and Knowledge Systems: Thatheras metalcraft, Kalbelia dance
• Festivals & Cultural Expressions: Kumbh Mela, Yoga, Durga Puja, Garba, Chhath Mahaparva
Q2. What is the primary purpose of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID)?
- To monitor social media posts and regulate online content
- To provide security agencies real-time access to multiple government and private databases on a single platform
- To centralise the cybersecurity operations of all States
- To collect intelligence on foreign agencies
Correct Option: 2. To provide security agencies real-time access to multiple government and private databases on a single platform
Explanation:
NATGRID was created to allow police and investigative agencies to quickly access a range of datasets — such as Aadhaar, driving licences, airline records, bank information, and relevant social media details — in real time and from one platform.
This eliminates the earlier need for agencies to request data from multiple departments separately.
Q3. Which of the following statements about NATGRID access is correct?
- Only central intelligence agencies can access NATGRID.
- NATGRID access is available only after an FIR is registered.
- Access has been expanded to include State police officers of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank.
- NATGRID can only be used for counterterrorism operations.
Correct Option: 3. Access has been expanded to include State police officers of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank.
Explanation:
Originally, NATGRID was accessible only to 10 Central agencies (like IB, R&AW, NIA, ED, DRI, etc.).
However, access has now been expanded to State police, specifically to officers of the Superintendent of Police (SP) rank.
Q4. What major finding emerged from the restoration study conducted in Solapur’s semi-arid grasslands?
- Restored grasslands stored less carbon than undisturbed old-growth grasslands
- Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased significantly in restored sites compared to untreated sites
- Restoration had no measurable impact on soil properties
- Restored sites showed rapid woody plant growth, reducing carbon storage
Correct Option: 2. Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased significantly in restored sites compared to untreated sites
Explanation: The study (ATREE + Grasslands Trust + Maharashtra Forest Department) found that:
• After 2 years, restored patches had 21% more soil organic carbon (SOC) than untreated areas.
• After 3 years, SOC increased by 50% compared to untreated areas.
This shows that grassland restoration greatly boosts below-ground carbon storage.
Q5. Which of the following recent findings about cosmic filaments was reported by University of Oxford researchers?
- A 50-million-light-year-long filament was found to be slowly rotating, with galaxy spins aligned with it
- A filament was discovered emitting strong radio waves from dark matter interactions
- Multiple filaments were observed merging to form a new galaxy cluster
- A filament containing thousands of galaxies was collapsing into a massive black hole
Correct Option: 1. A 50-million-light-year-long filament was found to be slowly rotating, with galaxy spins aligned with it.
Explanation:
• Oxford researchers reported the discovery of a ~50-million-light-year-long cosmic filament traced by at least 14 galaxies.
• They observed that the spins of these galaxies were aligned with the direction of the filament.
• This alignment suggests that the entire filament is slowly rotating, making it one of the largest spinning structures ever detected in the universe.
Q6. Which groups allied with Indonesian forces to advance on Dili during the invasion of Portuguese East Timor?
- Fretilin and Australian troops
- UDT, Apodeti, Kota, and Trabalista political parties
- Timorese civilians and Fretilin supporters
- Lisbon-based Portuguese military units
Correct Option: 2. UDT, Apodeti, Kota, and Trabalista political parties.
Explanation:
• The article states that pro-Indonesian Timorese groups — specifically UDT, Apodeti, Kota, and Trabalista political parties — advanced on Dili in coordination with Indonesian troops, using mortar bombardment.
• These groups opposed Fretilin and assisted Indonesia in taking control of the capital.
Q7. Who won the Formula One World Championship in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?
- Max Verstappen
- Oscar Piastri
- Lando Norris
- Charles Leclerc
Correct Option: 3. Lando Norris.
Explanation:
• Lando Norris (McLaren) clinched his first Formula One World Championship after finishing third in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• His final points tally was 423, narrowly surpassing Max Verstappen who had 421 points and won the race.
• This victory ended Verstappen’s four-year consecutive championship streak, preventing him from achieving a fifth straight title—a feat only previously managed by Michael Schumacher.
• Oscar Piastri finished third in the championship with 410 points, and Charles Leclerc finished fourth in the Abu Dhabi race.
Q8. What is the theme of the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to be held in New Delhi?
- Integrating modern medicine into traditional healthcare
- Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being
- Global promotion of pharmaceutical innovations
- Traditional medicine for economic growth
Correct Option: 2. Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.
Explanation:
The theme of the Summit is “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.”
This theme emphasizes:
• Integrating traditional medicine into global health systems
• Promoting holistic, evidence-based approaches for well-being
• Advancing sustainable and inclusive healthcare globally
Q9. Which of the following statements about the “Niveshak Didi” initiative is correct?
- It only focuses on teaching digital payment methods to college students.
- It is organized solely by RBI under the Financial Literacy Week program.
- It is conducted exclusively through urban bank branches to educate senior citizens.
- It leverages women postal workers to deliver financial literacy at the grassroots level.
Correct Option: 4. It leverages women postal workers to deliver financial literacy at the grassroots level.
Explanation:
“Niveshak Didi” is a financial literacy initiative under the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA).
Key features:
• Camps are organized at Anganwadis, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), panchayat halls, and women-only gatherings.
• Women postal workers are trained as community financial educators to reach rural and semi-urban populations.
• Focuses on responsible investing, fraud prevention, and digital banking.
The initiative leverages the widespread rural presence of postal workers, making financial education accessible at the grassroots level.
Q10. Which of the following is NOT a core vertical of the Gyan Bharatam initiative?
- Survey & Cataloguing
- Conservation & Capacity Building
- Music & Dance Promotion
- Linguistics & Translation
Correct Option: 3. Music & Dance Promotion
Explanation:
The five core verticals of the Gyan Bharatam initiative are:
1. Survey & Cataloguing – documenting manuscripts.
2. Conservation & Capacity Building – preserving manuscripts and training personnel.
3. Technology & Digitization – using AI and advanced tools for digital access.
4. Linguistics & Translation – translating and understanding ancient texts.
5. Research, Publication & Outreach – promoting scholarship and awareness.
Music & Dance Promotion is not a core vertical of Gyan Bharatam, though it is promoted separately by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) and EZCC.
Q11. What is the primary purpose of the Delhi Declaration (Gyan Bharatam Sankalp Patra)?
- To promote folk dances like Sambalpuri Dance across India
- To create a global network of performing arts academies
- To preserve, digitize, and revitalize India’s manuscript heritage
- To fund universities for technology and AI research
Correct Option: 3. To preserve, digitize, and revitalize India’s manuscript heritage
Explanation:
The Gyan Bharatam Sankalp Patra emphasizes:
• Viewing manuscripts as the living memory of India’s civilization.
• Using modern conservation and digitization practices.
• Encouraging research to make traditional knowledge relevant today.
• Fostering national and global collaboration for safeguarding manuscripts.
While SNA and EZCC promote performing arts, the Delhi Declaration is specifically focused on manuscripts, not dance or AI research in general.
Q12. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of Operation Sagar Bandhu?
- To provide urgent Search & Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka
- To establish permanent Indian naval bases in Sri Lanka
- To deploy combat forces along the Sri Lankan coast for strategic deterrence
- To conduct joint naval exercises between India and Sri Lanka
Correct Option: 1. To provide urgent Search & Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka
Explanation:
• Operation Sagar Bandhu is a humanitarian mission by the Indian Navy focused on providing aid to cyclone-affected regions of Sri Lanka.
• Earlier, INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri, and INS Sukanya provided relief and heli-borne SAR support.
• The recent deployment includes INS Gharial, LCU 54, LCU 51, and LCU 57, delivering critical relief materials.
• The operation highlights India’s commitment to humanitarian assistance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and strengthens people-to-people ties, rather than involving combat or military exercises.
Key Point: The operation is humanitarian in nature, not military or strategic deployment.