1. What is chiefly behind the growing kidney disease cases among young Indians?
Answer: D. Rising chronic kidney disease is tied to lifestyle habits like obesity, junk food, protein supplements and painkillers, along with diabetes, hypertension and pollutants.
2. Why does India's first-ever critical minerals auction matter?
Answer: B. Thirteen exploration blocks, covering rare earths, zinc, diamonds and copper, are on offer to build self-reliance in minerals needed by electronics, clean energy and defence.
3. Which organisation managed to undock satellites in the SpaDeX mission?
Answer: E. ISRO separated the satellites SDX01 and SDX02 in SpaDeX, showing India can carry out autonomous docking, which future space missions will need.
4. What is the core goal of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS)?
Answer: C. The scheme opens internship openings to young Indians, with the PMIS app simplifying applications and improving their chances of finding jobs.
5. By which route does hantavirus pass to people?
Answer: C. The virus spreads when people breathe in rodent droppings or touch infected rodents, and it can cause serious lung and kidney problems with no specific cure.
6. Why is Starlink entering India through Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio?
Answer: A. Working with Airtel and Jio lets Starlink bring satellite connectivity to villages where ordinary broadband cannot reach.
7. What does the RBI's climate risk disclosure framework mainly aim to do?
Answer: E. The central bank is finalising disclosure rules so financial entities can assess climate risks, promote green finance and keep the system sustainable.
8. What is SEBI's new stance on Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI)?
Answer: B. SEBI widened UPSI to cover activities such as fundraising, management agreements and restructuring, to curb insider trading.
9. Why does the RBI remain wary of more rate cuts even though inflation has eased?
Answer: D. Inflation has fallen to 3.61%, yet liquidity shortfalls, global conditions and the need for gradual adjustment keep the RBI careful.
10. What explains the fall in India's food inflation?
Answer: A. Kharif output rose 7.9% and rabi output 6%, keeping food supplies stable and prices lower.
11. What was the level of India's gold reserves in the week ended 7 March 2025?
Answer: C. Gold reserves rose $1 billion to $74.32 billion.
12. On which date is World Kidney Day, when experts flagged rising CKD in young Indians?
Answer: A. The notes refer to World Kidney Day on March 13.
13. Where was India's first auction of exploration licences for critical mineral blocks launched?
Answer: A. Minister G. Kishan Reddy launched it at Dona Paula, Goa.
14. Which launch vehicle carried the SpaDeX satellites on December 30, 2024?
Answer: B. SpaDeX was launched on PSLV C60.
15. Which institute developed the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) app?
Answer: C. The PMIS app was developed by Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics.