Which of the following statements about Hampi is/are correct?
It was founded by rulers of the Tuluva dynasty.
The Battle of Talikota led to the destruction of Hampi.
Hampi is located on the banks of the Krishna River.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) 2 only
Explanation:
Why in News: A mantapa at Virupaksha Temple in Hampi recently collapsed due to rain, raising concerns over preservation.
Statement 1: Incorrect. Hampi was founded by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty, not the Tuluva dynasty.
Statement 2: Correct. The Battle of Talikota (1565) was fought between Vijayanagara Empire and Deccan Sultanates, leading to the sacking and burning of Hampi.
Statement 3: Incorrect. Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, not the Krishna River.
2. Clinidium lalitae
Consider the following statements regarding the beetle species Clinidium lalitae:
It was discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
It is a flying beetle species found in open grasslands.
It plays a role in nutrient cycling and soil health.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
Why in News: ZSI discovered a new beetle species and named it Clinidium lalitae.
Statement 1: Correct. Discovered in Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh.
Statement 2: Incorrect. It is a ground beetle, not a flying beetle, and lives in forest floors, not grasslands.
Statement 3: Correct. It contributes to nutrient cycling and soil health in forest ecosystems.
3. Leptobrachium aryatium
Leptobrachium aryatium is ecologically significant because:
a) It is a top predator in freshwater rivers.
b) It is an amphibian bioindicator for ecosystem health.
c) It is the only amphibian species found in the Himalayas.
d) It feeds on agricultural pests in tea plantations.
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) It is an amphibian bioindicator for ecosystem health.
Explanation:
Why in News: New frog species discovered in Assam’s Garbhanga Reserve Forest.
Amphibians like Leptobrachium aryatium are sensitive to environmental changes, making them bioindicators.
They do not act as top predators or pest controllers in agriculture.
4. Miniature Laser on Silicon Chip
Which of the following statements regarding Miniature Lasers grown on silicon chips is/are correct?
These lasers are made using gallium arsenide to overcome silicon’s indirect bandgap.
They help increase speed and reduce power consumption in computing.
This technology is incompatible with CMOS systems used in current chip manufacturing.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Tap here for Answer
Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
Why in News: Scientists successfully grew miniature lasers directly on silicon wafers.
Statement 1: Correct. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is used because silicon’s indirect bandgap doesn’t emit light efficiently.
Statement 2: Correct. These lasers will make data transfer faster and more energy-efficient.
Statement 3: Incorrect. The new method is compatible with CMOS technology, making integration possible.
5. AI Basics: TPU vs GPU
Which of the following statements about AI processing units is/are correct?
GPUs are built for sequential processing of tasks.
TPUs are more efficient than GPUs in training deep neural networks.
CPUs can handle parallel processing better than GPUs.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) 2 only
Explanation:
Why in News: Comparison of TPU, GPU, and CPU in AI workloads.
Statement 1: Incorrect. GPUs specialize in parallel processing, not sequential.
Statement 2: Correct. TPUs are optimized for tensor computations and are faster than GPUs for AI workloads.
Statement 3: Incorrect. CPUs are better at sequential tasks, not parallel processing.
6. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
Which of the following is true about CJD?
a) It is caused by a bacterial infection in the brain.
b) It is a prion disease with no known cure.
c) It affects children more commonly than adults.
d) It is spread through contaminated drinking water.
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) It is a prion disease with no known cure.
Explanation:
Why in News: Two deaths from CJD in the US triggered global awareness.
Correct: It is caused by abnormally folded prion proteins, and there is currently no cure.
Incorrect options: It is not bacterial, not common in children, and not waterborne.
7. Thangjing Hills
Why are Thangjing Hills significant?
a) They are home to the rare snow leopard in India.
b) They are the origin of the River Brahmaputra.
c) They are considered sacred in Meitei cosmology.
d) They are a Ramsar Wetland site.
Tap here for Answer
Answer: c) They are considered sacred in Meitei cosmology.
Explanation:
Why in News: Tensions reported in Manipur’s Thangjing Hill range.
The hills are associated with the deity Thangching, regarded as sacred by Meitei communities.
8. Tuti Island
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Tuti Island?
It lies at the confluence of the Nile and Zambezi rivers.
It has historical significance for the Mahas community.
It has suffered both conflict and climate-related damage.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Why in News: Tuti Island in Sudan affected by civil war and environmental degradation.
Statement 1: Incorrect. It lies at the confluence of Blue and White Nile, not Zambezi.
Statement 2: Correct. It’s tied to the Mahas community’s heritage.
Statement 3: Correct. Conflict and climate change have made the island vulnerable.
9. PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme
Which of the following statements is NOT correct about the PM Vidyalaxmi Scheme?
a) It offers 3% interest subvention for loans up to ₹10 lakh.
b) Loans up to ₹7.5 lakh come with a 75% credit guarantee.
c) Students availing any other state scholarship are also eligible.
d) It applies only to students admitted to Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs).
Tap here for Answer
Answer: c) Students availing any other state scholarship are also eligible.
Explanation:
Why in News: Banks raised concerns regarding slow uptake of the scheme.
Statement c is incorrect. Students receiving any other government scholarship or interest subvention are not eligible under PM Vidyalaxmi.
Others are true per scheme guidelines.
10. Etalin Hydroelectric Project
Consider the following statements regarding the Etalin Hydroelectric Project:
It is located in Mizoram and involves the Dri and Subansiri rivers.
It is a run-of-the-river project.
The project site lies in a global biodiversity hotspot.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Why in News: Arunachal Pradesh government allocated ₹269.97 crore to Etalin HEP.
Statement 1: Incorrect. The project is in Arunachal Pradesh, not Mizoram, and involves the Dri and Tangon rivers.
Statement 2: Correct. It is a run-of-the-river project.
Statement 3: Correct. The project area lies in a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.
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