1. The "Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR)" programme was started by which ministry?
Answer: C. MSDE began SOAR with support from the Ministry of Education to build AI literacy among students of Classes 6 to 12 and their teachers under the Skill India Mission.
2. What is the chief purpose of the Intrusion Detection System brought in by the Northeast Frontier Railway?
Answer: E. Vibration-sensitive fibre optic cables pick up elephants or other large animals near the line and send instant alerts so accidents can be avoided.
3. NITI Aayog's report "Coast is Clear for Doing Business Sustainably" suggests cutting the Coastal Regulation Zone limit from what to what?
Answer: A. The think tank wants the zone measured from the high-tide line reduced from 500 m to 200 m, releasing coastal land for economic use while still considering environmental concerns.
4. Blackbuck have returned to Chhattisgarh's Barnawapara Sanctuary. Under which IUCN category is the species placed?
Answer: B. The IUCN Red List rates blackbuck as Near Threatened. They had vanished locally from Chhattisgarh in 2017 and were brought back through a five-year plan for 2021–26.
5. How many snow leopards did India's first national census, under the '#23for23' initiative begun on International Snow Leopard Day 2025, record?
Answer: D. The first National Snow Leopard Census counted 718 animals across the Indian Himalayan region, and the campaign also tried to raise awareness and bring citizens into conservation.
6. The 2025 bank nomination rules let a depositor name at most how many nominees for an account?
Answer: C. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, effective 1 November 2025, lets customers name up to four people with set shares, which brings transparency and quicker claim settlement.
7. MFIN has restricted each borrower to a maximum of how many lenders?
Answer: A. To keep borrowers from becoming over-indebted, MFIN set a ceiling of three lenders per borrower from 1 April 2025, promoting responsible lending and stability in microfinance.
8. In September 2025, about how much gold did the RBI hold in its reserves?
Answer: B. The central bank's gold holding came to roughly 880 tonnes, worth about $95 billion, as it has steadily added gold to hedge against global volatility and bolster financial stability.
9. What is the main purpose of NABARD's AgriSURE Fund?
Answer: E. The Agriculture Sector Upscaling and Resilience Enhancement Fund supports agritech startups, digital financial inclusion and rural entrepreneurship to create a sustainable agricultural ecosystem.
10. At which major event was NABARD's AgriSURE Fund first presented?
Answer: D. NABARD revealed its first AgriSURE investment during the Global Fintech Festival 2025, underlining its intent to foster agritech and rural innovation.
11. In which year did the UN General Assembly declare 24 October as United Nations Day?
Answer: D. The Assembly made the declaration in 1947; a 1971 resolution later recommended it as a public holiday.
12. SOAR is implemented by which ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Education?
Answer: B. MSDE implements SOAR.
13. Which railway zone deployed the Intrusion Detection System to protect elephants?
Answer: B. NFR deployed the system.
14. NITI Aayog proposed reducing the CRZ limit from 500 m to what distance?
Answer: C. The proposal is a 200-metre limit from the high-tide line.
15. In which year was blackbuck declared locally extinct in Chhattisgarh?
Answer: C. The notes say it was declared locally extinct in 2017.