1. Which trio of countries called on the US to lift sanctions tied to Iran's nuclear program?
Answer: A. China, Russia and Iran asked Washington to remove the nuclear-related sanctions dating from Donald Trump's presidency. Iran has said it will not negotiate under pressure.
2. Which financial plan is BRICS weighing in order to depend less on the US dollar?
Answer: D. Member nations are looking at a mechanism that would let them trade without the US dollar, lowering their reliance on Western financial institutions.
3. What issue has the Parliamentary Committee raised about MGNREGS wages?
Answer: C. The committee proposed revising MGNREGS wages because living costs are rising, and urged one wage structure across states. It also noted long payment delays, notably in West Bengal.
4. Why is the Real-Money Gaming (RMG) industry in India under strain?
Answer: A. High taxation and no clear rules are hurting the sector. Offshore gambling sites that ignore Indian law are expanding while domestic companies bear the heavy tax.
5. What breakthrough did India's Aditya-L1 mission achieve?
Answer: D. Aditya-L1 saw a CME that was not accompanied by a solar flare. This gives fresh insight into solar activity and helps in understanding space weather.
6. What worry has been voiced about how APAAR ID is being rolled out?
Answer: B. The government says APAAR ID is optional, but reports say schools are forcing students to sign up. That has triggered privacy and legal concerns.
7. What do India's microfinance institutions mainly ask for on refinancing?
Answer: E. The industry wants MUDRA Bank to become a specialised refinancing body. This would support financial stability and the flow of loans among microfinance institutions.
8. For what reason are MSME exporters seeking changes to e-commerce export rules?
Answer: C. Small exporters struggle with handling remittances, heavy paperwork and complicated regulation. They are asking for AI-based reconciliation and standard fees.
9. What pushed gold prices beyond $3,000 an ounce recently?
Answer: C. Uncertainty from the US-China trade war, larger gold purchases by central banks (China in particular) and possible Federal Reserve rate cuts have lifted gold.
10. What is the main reform in the Block Assessment Scheme for income tax search cases?
Answer: A. The revamped scheme merges several years of filings into a single return. This lowers the compliance burden and lets cases be settled faster.
11. World Consumer Rights Day commemorates the 1962 address on consumer rights by which leader?
Answer: E. The day recalls US President John F. Kennedy's 1962 address on consumer rights.
12. Who is Iran's Supreme Leader, to whom Trump wrote proposing renewed nuclear negotiations?
Answer: C. Trump's letter was addressed to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
13. Brazil, host of COP30, wants climate finance to grow from the $300 billion pledged at COP29 to about how much?
Answer: B. The target is $1.3 trillion, building on $300 billion.
14. MGNREGS wages are currently linked to which index, which the parliamentary committee found inadequate?
Answer: B. The committee criticised the link to CPI for agricultural labourers.
15. What rate of GST do legal real-money gaming firms like Dream11 and PokerBaazi face?
Answer: C. The notes state legal RMG firms are subject to 28% GST.