1. What is the main goal of India's security partnership with Mauritius?
Answer: D. As part of its Indian Ocean strategy, India is helping build a Police Academy and a Maritime Information Sharing Centre in Mauritius. These will counter piracy and raise maritime safety.
2. In what way does the Jio-Starlink tie-up help India?
Answer: B. The partnership brings satellite-based internet, especially to remote regions. It will work alongside JioFiber and JioAirFiber to improve connectivity across the country.
3. How does the US's 25% tariff on steel and aluminium affect India?
Answer: E. MSMEs that rely on steel exports to the US will suffer. Even so, India buys more raw steel from the US than it sells there, so the overall damage is limited.
4. What is Sri Lanka's chief objection in the Palk Bay fisheries dispute?
Answer: A. Sri Lanka objects to bottom trawling by Indian fishermen, which damages marine biodiversity and creates an economic gap between the fishing communities of the two sides.
5. What role is Indian Railways playing in Mission Amrit Sarovar?
Answer: D. Railways puts soil excavated during infrastructure work to use in building ponds. The aim is to raise groundwater levels and support rural livelihoods.
6. What is behind the controversy around the APAAR ID?
Answer: C. The APAAR ID is officially optional, yet schools are reportedly insisting on registration. This has raised worries about privacy, reliance on Aadhaar and legal conflict.
7. Why do LIC, GIC Re and New India Assurance continue to be Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs)?
Answer: A. A D-SII is an insurer whose collapse could shake the financial system, so it gets tighter regulatory oversight because of its weight in the market.
8. Which statement captures India's digital economy growth correctly?
Answer: D. India ranks third among digital economies, yet internet access (58%) and e-commerce adoption (28%) are below global norms. Policy support for digital literacy and connectivity is needed.
9. Which challenge stands in the way of India sustaining GDP growth above 6.5%?
Answer: B. Even with healthy GDP growth, soft consumer demand and tight government finances must be addressed if India is to keep up long-term momentum.
10. Which approach is a key remedy for global tax evasion?
Answer: E. Multinationals and wealthy individuals use tax havens to dodge taxes, which cuts government revenue. Tougher global tax rules and cooperation between countries can reduce the problem.
11. Starlink, which Jio partnered to bring to India, is operated by a subsidiary of which company?
Answer: B. Starlink Services, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX.
12. What additional tariff did the U.S. impose on all steel and aluminium imports from 12 March 2025?
Answer: C. President Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 25%.
13. Which fishing practice, banned in Sri Lanka but still used by Indian fishermen, fuels the Palk Bay dispute?
Answer: C. Bottom trawling damages habitats and is the core irritant.
14. How many ponds per district does Mission Amrit Sarovar aim to build or revive?
Answer: C. The mission targets 75 ponds in each district.
15. What does APAAR stand for in the education sector?
Answer: A. APAAR is the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.