1. What is the chief goal of India's Design-Linked Incentive Scheme?
Answer: A. By giving financial incentives to startups and MSMEs working on chip design, the scheme strengthens the domestic design ecosystem and lessens import reliance.
2. What is the AIKosh platform launched by the Indian government meant to do?
Answer: B. AIKosh merges cultural and religious texts with government data to form an AI platform with a wide range of applications.
3. Which ethical worry is linked to Colossal Biosciences' de-extinction projects?
Answer: C. Reviving extinct species raises concern over what happens to current ecosystems, to the animals themselves, and to conservation spending.
4. Why is India's Gaurav Long-Range Glide Bomb strategically significant?
Answer: D. The glide bomb lets the Air Force hit targets precisely from afar, so aircraft face less exposure to enemy defences.
5. By what percentage did equity mutual fund inflows fall in March 2025?
Answer: E. Inflows into equity mutual funds dropped 14.4% in March 2025, hinting at cautious investor sentiment.
6. What did the RBI propose for the Loan-to-Value ratio on gold loans?
Answer: A. The RBI suggested a 65% LTV ratio for gold loans to curb the risk of large loans against gold and promote credit discipline.
7. What was the reason IRDAI cautioned Heritage TPA?
Answer: B. The insurance regulator warned the firm because it broke rules on handling claims, which can erode policyholders' trust.
8. What is the main concern about air pollution's influence on rainfall in Indian cities?
Answer: C. Pollution acidifies rainfall, which can damage crops, soil, water bodies and built structures, creating environmental and economic problems.
9. Why did the Punjab government prohibit the sale of certain hybrid paddy seeds?
Answer: D. Growing those seeds degraded the soil and, through higher input costs, added to farmers' financial burden, so the state banned them.
10. To what level did China raise tariffs on US imports in April 2025 in response to Washington's duties?
Answer: C. China raised tariffs on US goods to 125%.
11. What share of climate policies mention women, as per the notes?
Answer: B. Just 6% of climate policies mention women; 1% consider the poor.
12. Which Italian port did Antonio Tajani offer as a central hub for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor?
Answer: C. Italy offered Trieste Port as a central IMEC hub.
13. Which scheme, effective 1 January 2021, replaced MEIS for exporters?
Answer: A. RoDTEP replaced the MEIS export incentive.
14. The IMO's April 2025 climate framework for shipping aims for net-zero GHG emissions by around which year?
Answer: C. The goal is net-zero by or around 2050.
15. Who said 'We do not negotiate at gunpoint' regarding the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement?
Answer: C. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal made the remark.