1. In 2010 the BRIC bloc became BRICS after which country came on board?
Answer: A. BRIC began in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India and China, and South Africa's entry in 2010 added an African member.
2. Which one is not among the nine pillars of the Digital India programme?
Answer: B. Robotics is not a pillar; the real list includes items such as Broadband Highways, Universal Mobile Access and e-Kranti.
3. In investors' contract notes, what does SEBI's newly required "single VWAP" stand for?
Answer: C. SEBI wants one common volume-weighted average price on the contract note so that trades across exchanges are reported simply.
4. The C-FLOOD flood forecasting system runs on which technology?
Answer: D. C-FLOOD is built on 2D hydrodynamic modelling, drawing on satellite inputs and high-performance computing simulations.
5. The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative seeks to lessen dependence on which country's dominance of mineral supply?
Answer: E. The effort targets China's hold over rare earths and their processing, and aims to spread out global supply chains.
6. What is the main goal of the ESIC's SPREE scheme 2025?
Answer: A. SPREE 2025 invites unregistered employers and workers, particularly informal and contract staff, to enrol with ESIC of their own accord.
7. What is a core function of the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) tool?
Answer: B. FRI labels mobile numbers as medium, high or very high risk, helping stop financial fraud as it happens.
8. India Ratings expects microfinance institutions to get back to normal by when?
Answer: C. Ind-Ra projects that the MFI sector will recover to its pre-stress performance level during H2 of FY26.
9. What is the main use of the AI-based NPSS platform for farmers?
Answer: D. The National Pest Surveillance System identifies pests from photos that farmers upload and then issues matching control advice.
10. Why has SBI set up its new Global Trade Finance Centres?
Answer: E. The centres, opened in Kolkata and Hyderabad, use tools like AI and blockchain to speed up import and export transactions.
11. Who coined the term BRIC in 2001 in a Goldman Sachs report?
Answer: B. Jim O'Neill, Goldman Sachs chief economist, coined it in 2001.
12. Which four countries form the grouping that launched the Critical Minerals Initiative in 2025?
Answer: A. The Quad consists of India, the US, Japan and Australia.
13. Which ministry is the nodal ministry for the Digital India programme?
Answer: B. MeitY is the nodal ministry for Digital India.
14. C-FLOOD, launched in July 2025, provides advance flood forecasts for how many days?
Answer: B. The notes state C-FLOOD offers 2-day advance flood forecasts.
15. SPREE 2025, approved by ESIC, is meant to promote what?
Answer: B. SPREE stands for Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees.