1. A 25% tariff on countries that buy Venezuelan oil was proposed in March 2025 by which leader?
Answer: D. Donald Trump put forward a 25% tariff aimed at nations that purchase oil from Venezuela.
2. What was the main thrust of the urban development strategy for India discussed in March 2025?
Answer: C. The discussion gave the central government a leading role in urbanisation, through a top-down funding model that would bring urban development in different states onto common standards.
3. Which scientific technique was stressed in March 2025 for its part in identification?
Answer: A. DNA fingerprinting relies on the unique patterns in a person's DNA, which helps in forensic investigations, paternity tests and personal identification.
4. What step did India take on tuberculosis (TB) in March 2025?
Answer: D. India began a genomic sequencing project for TB to learn the genetic makeup of the strains. The work supports better treatment and the national goal of eliminating TB.
5. Which naval exercise did India say it would hold for the first time in March 2025?
Answer: B. The inaugural 'Aikeyme' naval exercise was announced, with the focus on maritime security and cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.
6. Which governance reform did SEBI put forward in March 2025?
Answer: E. SEBI proposed the committee to deal with conflicts of interest in financial markets, with the aim of raising transparency and investor confidence.
7. Per the IMF's Financial Sector Stability Assessment (FSSA) report of March 2025, which area in India needs stronger practices?
Answer: C. The FSSA report called on India to strengthen credit risk management, both to safeguard financial stability and to reduce risks in banking.
8. What change did the RBI make in March 2025 to Priority Sector Lending (PSL) rules for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)?
Answer: C. The RBI altered the PSL targets for UCBs so that they lend more to weaker sections of society, in support of inclusive growth.
9. Unprecedented growth in which segment of India's derivatives market led SEBI to take action in March 2025?
Answer: A. Equity derivatives expanded at an unprecedented pace, so SEBI introduced measures to keep the market stable and protect investors.
10. Which team booked a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by beating New Caledonia 3-0 in March 2025?
Answer: E. New Zealand qualified after a 3-0 victory over New Caledonia, which will be their third appearance in the tournament.
11. What tariff did Trump announce on countries purchasing Venezuelan oil and gas?
Answer: B. A 25% tariff on all trade with the US was announced.
12. What share of the Union urban development budget is proposed as direct transfers to States and cities?
Answer: C. The suggestion is 70% direct transfers and 30% retained for national priorities.
13. In PCR for DNA fingerprinting, at what temperature does the extension step using Taq polymerase occur?
Answer: B. Extension happens at 72°C; denaturation is 95°C and annealing 60°C.
14. For how long must details of deleted MGNREGS job cards be published in the public domain under the new guidelines?
Answer: C. Guidelines require publication for at least 30 days.
15. How many Mycobacterium tuberculosis samples is DBT aiming to sequence under its TB genomic initiative?
Answer: C. The target is 32,500 samples, of which about 10,000 are done.