1. In NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index 2025, the best overall score belonged to which state?
Answer: A. Odisha placed first with 678 points; its Debt Index stood at 990 and its Debt Sustainability score at 640.
2. Four states were placed in the 'Aspirational States' group of the Fiscal Health Index 2025. Which set is it?
Answer: E. Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala were grouped as aspirational because of weak revenue raising, large deficits and shaky debt sustainability.
3. The ILO's World Social Protection Report 2024–26 puts India's social protection coverage in 2024 at what level?
Answer: B. Coverage roughly doubled over three years, going from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024.
4. What status did the Asia Power Index 2025 newly assign to India?
Answer: E. India placed third in the ranking and, for the first time, passed the index's own cut-off for being called a major power.
5. Which segment of the corporate bond market is the target of the new Crisil and AMFI proposal to improve liquidity?
Answer: C. Bonds rated AA to BBB trade thinly even though they offer high yields, so the framework seeks to improve trading activity and price discovery.
6. Models for market-making in bonds rated below AAA are being reviewed by which body?
Answer: A. The Department of Economic Affairs began consultations aimed at setting up a formal structure for market makers.
7. A government-backed market maker for AA–BBB bonds would mainly offer which benefit?
Answer: D. Such an entity keeps buy and sell quotes available at all times, giving investors confidence and kick-starting trading.
8. Which group of firms stands to gain most if the AA–BBB bond market becomes liquid?
Answer: B. Smaller and mid-sized firms seldom earn an AAA rating, so they find it hard to raise debt capital today.
9. Puducherry's newly launched Smart Farmer ID Card (SFIC) uses which technology?
Answer: E. The new card takes the place of the old booklet format and lets officials verify identity instantly through a QR-based digital check.
10. Under which mission is the Saras Food Festival 2025 held?
Answer: C. The festival presents rural food traditions and backs women-run self-help groups under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
11. Under NACP-V, annual HIV testing in India rose from 4.13 crore in 2020-21 to what figure in 2024-25?
Answer: B. Testing climbed to 6.62 crore in 2024-25, while antiretroviral treatment coverage rose from 14.94 lakh to 18.60 lakh.
12. The Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios Award 2025 was awarded to Tessy Thomas for pioneering contributions to which field?
Answer: C. The citation credits her pioneering contributions to defence science.
13. The rustic bunting breeds mainly in which type of habitat?
Answer: C. It breeds in wet coniferous woodlands of the northern Palearctic and winters mostly in East and Southeast Asia.
14. The Kizilelma trial was described as manned-unmanned teaming because which crewed aircraft joined it from Merzifon air base?
Answer: A. Five F-16 fighters flew from Merzifon air base during the test phase, demonstrating crewed-uncrewed formation flying.
15. Which body brings out the Fiscal Health Index 2025 that ranks 18 major Indian states?
Answer: B. The Fiscal Health Index 2025 is a NITI Aayog report, built on CAG data.