1. Which technology partnership was announced during PM Modi's visit to the US?
Answer: A. TRUST was launched to deepen India-US collaboration in emerging fields like AI, semiconductors and quantum computing.
2. What is the chief environmental objection to the Pune Riverfront Development Project?
Answer: D. Campaigners oppose it because 22,000 trees would be cut, ecology could suffer, and sacred groves with cultural and environmental value would be lost.
3. Which initiative is intended to strengthen defence cooperation between India and the US?
Answer: B. COMPACT was introduced to expand India-US military ties, concentrating on defence technology, sharing of intelligence and Indo-Pacific security.
4. Although outlawed, rat hole mining persists in Assam and Meghalaya. What explains this?
Answer: E. Even after the NGT ban of 2014 and a Supreme Court ruling in 2019, illegal mining carries on, backed by coal mafias and political involvement.
5. What has the TrailGuard AI system achieved in Similipal Tiger Reserve?
Answer: C. Its AI-equipped cameras spot poachers, which led to 96 arrests and 86 seized guns in ten months and better protection of wildlife.
6. A main cause of the fall in labour migration in India is which?
Answer: D. After the pandemic many workers favour staying put, since city living costs are climbing and rural welfare schemes have improved, so migrating is less necessary.
7. Fintech firms trying to bring in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) struggle mainly with what?
Answer: A. UPI already gives smooth real-time payments, so CBDC has a hard time showing fintech companies any competitive edge.
8. What is the reason behind the government's plan to merge Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)?
Answer: E. Under the 'One State, One RRB' policy, mergers are meant to raise efficiency, bring down bad loans and make these banks financially sound.
9. SEBI's handling of the Religare Enterprises takeover contest brought what regulatory issue to light?
Answer: C. SEBI turned down Danny Gaekwad's bid on procedural grounds, prompting debate about loosening rules to encourage competing takeover offers.
10. The RBI restricted the New India Co-operative Bank because of what?
Answer: B. Withdrawals were frozen for six months over fraud-linked financial mismanagement, hitting more than 130,000 depositors and exposing weak governance in co-operative banks.