1. Which set of sectors is central to the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)?
Answer: B. Since ECTA came into force, bilateral trade has grown by 66%. The pact concentrates on clean energy, education, agribusiness and tourism, while investment in defence, space and health is also rising.
2. Why are there worries about giving Rajasthan's Orans (sacred groves) formal legal classification?
Answer: D. The Supreme Court held that Orans must be protected. However, bringing them under statutes like the Forest Conservation Act or Wildlife Protection Act might erode community-led management.
3. Insurance of bank deposits in India is handled by which body?
Answer: B. DICGC provides the cover on bank deposits. There is a plan to lift the insured limit from ₹5 lakh to ₹15 lakh, since only 43.1% of total deposits are presently covered.
4. For FY25 India is projected to become the world's fourth largest economy with a GDP of about:
Answer: E. India is set to move past Japan's $4 trillion economy and hit $4.2 trillion in FY25. The push comes from 6.5% growth, supportive policy and infrastructure spending.
5. Which factor best explains the fall in IPO activity in India?
Answer: A. Just 14 IPO filings were made in February, blamed on market swings, political uncertainty and regulatory worries. Brokerage firms consequently reported weaker earnings.
6. What makes the Bose Metal state found in Niobium Diselenide (NbSe₂) significant?
Answer: D. In a Bose metal, current flows with ease yet resistance never falls to zero, unlike in a superconductor. The finding may open the way to advances in quantum materials research.
7. The Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) in India mainly aims to do what?
Answer: C. C-3 is built around the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle approach to greener urban development. Under CITIIS 2.0, agreements worth ₹1,800 crore were signed, benefiting 18 cities in 14 states.
8. Which technology is expected to make Gangetic Dolphin counts more accurate?
Answer: A. Hydrophones pick up the echolocation clicks of river dolphins, which gives a more reliable headcount. This supports conservation, including protecting habitats and avoiding entanglement in fishing nets.
9. What happened to India's Manufacturing PMI in February?
Answer: D. The manufacturing PMI eased to 56.3 because of higher input costs, yet jobs and demand stayed firm. Any reading over 50 still means the sector is expanding.
10. Why does the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) matter for India-Australia trade?
Answer: B. CECA is meant to build on ECTA by covering a larger range of trade and investment matters. That would deepen India-Australia economic ties beyond what current agreements offer.
11. Which agreement is credited with boosting India-Australia trade, as per the new Australian economic engagement roadmap?
Answer: B. The notes credit the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) for the trade rise.
12. Which body's survey showed 63% of Americans think NATO helps the US?
Answer: B. The survey on Ukraine aid and NATO was by Pew Research Center.
13. Which Belgian minister held defence talks with Rajnath Singh in New Delhi?
Answer: B. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken met Rajnath Singh.
14. Sacred groves protected by local communities in Rajasthan, with a ban on cutting trees, are known as what?
Answer: B. Orans are community-kept sacred groves in Rajasthan.
15. In which city was the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) launched by India?
Answer: A. The C-3 launch and CITIIS 2.0 MoU signing took place in Jaipur.