1. What does two-factor authentication ask a user to provide?
Answer: B. It combines something the user knows, the password, with something the user holds, such as an authenticator app or device. This pairing makes attacks harder.
2. The Bhil people are among India's biggest tribal communities. From which word does the name Bhil come?
Answer: E. The name traces back to the Dravidian billu or villu, meaning bow. This reflects the community's long tradition of archery.
3. Who makes up the electoral college that elects India's Vice President?
Answer: A. Unlike the presidential poll, state legislators do not vote. Elected as well as nominated MPs from both Houses form the electorate.
4. What is the IUCN status of Pallas's cat, which was recently photographed in Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer: C. Otocolobus manul is classed as Near Threatened because of its restricted habitat and shrinking numbers. It has not yet reached the endangered category.
5. Because of clearing corporation holidays, SEBI shifted the settlement dates in which pair of market segments?
Answer: D. SEBI altered the settlement calendar for the cash market and the Securities Lending and Borrowing Mechanism. This prevents trouble from holidays at clearing corporations.
6. In the Jane Street matter, which body told SEBI to justify why it had not disclosed certain documents?
Answer: D. SAT, a quasi-judicial authority under the SEBI Act, asked the regulator to respond about holding back papers. The case concerns derivatives trading.
7. Whom do reinsurance companies provide cover to?
Answer: B. Reinsurers take on part of the risks that insurers carry. This lets insurers spread exposure, absorb large claims and stay financially sound.
8. Which lender is waiting for the RBI's approval to move from a Small Finance Bank to a universal bank?
Answer: A. Ujjivan SFB has submitted its application for a universal banking licence. The central bank's decision is expected around December 2025.
9. Which institution held the 'Dream2Demo' Startup Pitch Fest, described as its first?
Answer: C. SBI ran the inaugural pitch fest to bring entrepreneurs and investors together. The goal is to strengthen the startup ecosystem.
10. The SIDBI-CRIF Small Business Spotlight report shows which state with the biggest share of outstanding small business credit?
Answer: E. Maharashtra is on top with ₹606.2 thousand crore outstanding, a 13.4% share. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, UP and Karnataka come next.
11. The 80th UNGA President belongs to which regional group's rotation turn?
Answer: E. The presidency comes from the Western European and Others Group, in the rotation among the five regional groups.
12. When does Phase 2 (population enumeration) take place in most states under Census 2027?
Answer: D. Most states are enumerated in February 2027; hill regions like Ladakh go in September 2026.
13. The first Sunrise Festival will be held for how many days?
Answer: E. It runs from 29 December 2025 to 2 January 2026, a span of five days.
14. The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is best described as which type of platform?
Answer: B. It is a robot wingman for piloted fighter jets.