1. The 'Bhu Bharati' portal for managing land records was recently launched by which Indian state?
Answer: C. Telangana's government introduced Bhu Bharati to digitise land records and make land administration more transparent and efficient.
2. Under Round-IX of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), how many blocks were awarded to strengthen India's energy sector?
Answer: D. Twenty-eight blocks were handed to various companies in OALP Round-IX so that unexplored energy resources across India can be tapped.
3. Which unique biological trait of the mantis shrimp is inspiring work on phononic shielding mechanisms?
Answer: D. The mantis shrimp's claw strikes extremely fast and hard, and researchers study its microstructure to design shielding that soaks up and spreads out energy.
4. Phononic shielding mechanisms that draw on biological structures are mainly used for what?
Answer: E. These mechanisms are built to block or control certain sound frequencies, cutting noise and vibration for use in engineering.
5. SEBI cleared which financial services firm to start mutual fund operations under the name 'Capitalmind Mutual Fund'?
Answer: A. Capitalmind Financial Services, founded by Deepak Shenoy, got SEBI's approval to launch Capitalmind Mutual Fund and move into asset management.
6. Punjab National Bank (PNB) marked its 131st foundation day by launching how many new products?
Answer: B. PNB released 34 new products on its 131st foundation day to improve the customer experience and broaden its range of services.
7. India's retail inflation in March 2025 was the lowest since August 2019. What was the figure?
Answer: C. Retail inflation eased to 3.34 percent in March 2025, its lowest since August 2019, mainly because food prices, especially vegetables, came down.
8. The World Trade Organization's revised 2025 forecast projects what change in global merchandise trade?
Answer: E. The WTO now expects global merchandise trade to shrink by 0.2 percent in 2025, reflecting worries over U.S. tariff developments and policy uncertainty.
9. What was the size of India's trade deficit with China in fiscal year 2024-25?
Answer: E. India's deficit with China reached $99.2 billion in 2024-25, driven largely by a surge in imports of electronics goods and consumer durables.
10. What percentage of the long-period average (LPA) rainfall has the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast for the 2025 monsoon season?
Answer: A. The IMD expects rainfall equal to 105 percent of the long-period average, which is above normal and should help farm output and food prices.
11. WTO revised its 2025 global merchandise trade forecast to what change?
Answer: B. The WTO now expects a 0.2% decline in 2025.
12. What was India's trade deficit with China in FY 2024-25?
Answer: B. India recorded a $99.2 billion trade deficit with China.
13. The White House said China may face tariffs of up to what level on its exports to the US?
Answer: C. The fact sheet said tariffs of up to 245% were possible.
14. In which year was the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra last held, per the notes?
Answer: B. It was last conducted in 2019.
15. Which tribe is India's largest, ahead of the Gonds who rank second?
Answer: B. The Bhil tribe is the largest; the Gond is second largest.