1. India's retail inflation in September 2025 dropped to an over-eight-year low. What was the figure?
Answer: E. Cheaper food and softer fuel prices pulled consumer inflation down to 1.54% in September 2025, the weakest reading since June 2017, when it was 1.46%.
2. Which state had the lowest sex ratio at birth in the CRS Report 2023?
Answer: A. Jharkhand's ratio of 899 females per 1,000 males was the lowest, with Bihar close behind at 900, showing regional gaps in the birth sex ratio.
3. What is the objective of the "Fare Se Fursat" scheme brought in for Alliance Air?
Answer: C. This pilot, running October to December 2025, offers regional flyers clear and affordable fares in place of the dynamic pricing now used.
4. Which kind of information does the PM GatiShakti Portal open up to the private sector?
Answer: D. Industry, researchers and developers can use geospatial infrastructure datasets to plan better and build logistics and digital applications, fostering public-private cooperation.
5. Who became the first Indian recipient of the 2025 IUCN WCPA Kenton Miller Award?
Answer: B. Dr. Sonali Ghosh, the Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam, won the global honour for innovation and excellence in managing protected areas.
6. Which method now lets UPI users in India pay without keying in a PIN?
Answer: D. A fingerprint or face scan can now stand in for the PIN, making payments quicker, safer and easier, especially for senior citizens and first-time users.
7. What is RBI's AI-powered DPIP platform built to do?
Answer: A. The Digital Payments Intelligence Platform applies AI to flag suspicious transactions instantly, using a negative registry and risk scores so banks can stop fraud.
8. Which foreign bank is negotiating to take a controlling stake in RBL Bank?
Answer: E. The Gulf lender plans to buy 51% of RBL Bank for over $1 billion, a notable Gulf investment in the Indian banking sector.
9. Which statement about Sovereign Gold Bonds issued by the Government of India is true?
Answer: C. These government securities are denominated in grams of gold and pay 2.5% yearly interest, with an 8-year term and exit allowed after 5 years, which helps curb gold imports and hedge inflation.
10. NITI Aayog's Blue Economy report puts India's deep-sea fisheries yield potential at how much?
Answer: B. India's deep waters are mostly untapped and could produce 7.16 million tonnes of fish, supporting livelihoods, exports and sustainable growth of the blue economy.
11. What was India's CPI retail inflation in September 2025?
Answer: B. The notes give 1.54%, an eight-year low.
12. Which authority released the Vital Statistics of India based on CRS 2023?
Answer: A. The Registrar-General of India released the report.
13. Dr. Sonali Ghosh, winner of the 2025 IUCN Kenton Miller Award, is Field Director of which reserve?
Answer: D. She is Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam.
14. Roughly what share of natural sites showed stable or improving conservation outlooks in the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4?
Answer: D. About 65% of sites were stable or improving.
15. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana targets how many rooftop solar connections by FY2027?
Answer: C. The target is 1 crore rooftop solar connections by FY2027.