Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Kharai Camel:
It is found mainly in coastal Odisha and can swim long distances.
It survives on mangrove vegetation and saline water sources.
It has been preserved by the Rabari and Fakirani Jat communities.
Q1. खराई ऊंट के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:
यह मुख्यतः ओडिशा के तटीय क्षेत्रों में पाया जाता है और लंबी दूरी तैर सकता है।
यह मैंग्रोव वनस्पति और खारे पानी के स्रोतों पर जीवित रहता है।
इसे रबारी और फकीरानी जात समुदायों द्वारा संरक्षित किया गया है।
Options:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Why in News:
Despite National Green Tribunal orders, illegal salt pans and creek encroachments are threatening the habitat of the Kharai Camel in Kutch, Gujarat.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect – The Kharai camel is found in Gujarat, especially in the Kutch region, not in Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct – It feeds on mangrove vegetation and survives in saline coastal habitats.
Statement 3 is correct – Communities like Rabari and Fakirani Jat have preserved this breed for over 400 years.
🧾 Q2. Sugamya Bharat App (Direct MCQ)
Q2. Sugamya Bharat App is developed to serve which of the following objectives?
Q2. सुगम्य भारत ऐप किस उद्देश्य की पूर्ति के लिए विकसित किया गया है?
Options:
a) Tracking subsidies under PM Ujjwala Yojana
b) Promoting digital payments in rural areas
c) Reporting accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities
d) Online schooling for tribal children
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Answer: c) Reporting accessibility barriers for persons with disabilities
Why in News:
The Sugamya Bharat App has been revamped with a more user-friendly design and features like AI chatbot support, 10-language interface, and photo upload for accessibility violations.
Explanation:
The app was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2021.
It allows users to report accessibility barriers in public buildings, transportation, and ICT.
Only accessibility-related grievances can be registered — not general issues.
🧾 Q3. Silica Gel Desiccant (Statement-based MCQ)
Q3. Which of the following are correct about Silica Gel Desiccants?
They are made of hydrophobic silicon dioxide.
They work on the principle of capillary condensation.
They are commonly used to control humidity in packaging.
Q3. सिलिका जेल डेसिकेंट के बारे में निम्नलिखित में से कौन से कथन सही हैं?
ये जल-विरोधी सिलिकॉन डाइऑक्साइड से बने होते हैं।
ये कैपिलरी संघनन सिद्धांत पर कार्य करते हैं।
ये आमतौर पर पैकेजिंग में नमी को नियंत्रित करने के लिए प्रयोग होते हैं।
Options:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only
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Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Why in News:
Recent health advisories clarified that most silica beads in desiccant sachets are non-toxic and not as dangerous as silica dust.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect – Silica gel is hydrophilic, not hydrophobic. It absorbs water from the air.
Statement 2 is correct – It uses nano-sized pores and capillary effect to draw in moisture.
Statement 3 is correct – Widely used in electronics, food packaging, and pharma products to prevent spoilage.
Q4. What is the key mandate of the newly launched Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL)?
Q4. हाल ही में लॉन्च किए गए सागरमाला फाइनेंस कॉर्पोरेशन लिमिटेड (SMFCL) का प्रमुख उद्देश्य क्या है?
Options:
a) Funding highway construction under Bharatmala
b) Financing solar parks in coastal states
c) Providing financial services for maritime infrastructure
d) Offering agricultural credit for coastal farmers
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Answer: c) Providing financial services for maritime infrastructure
Why in News:
Union MoPSW recently inaugurated SMFCL, India’s first NBFC in the maritime sector, aiming to accelerate port-led development.
Explanation:
SMFCL is a Mini Ratna Category-I CPSE, converted from Sagarmala Development Company Ltd.
It provides tailored financial products to ports, MSMEs, shipping startups, and maritime education.
It aligns with India’s Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 to become a maritime global power.
🧾 Q5. Mahua Tree (Straightforward MCQ)
Q5. The Mahua tree is traditionally important for which of the following reasons?
Q5. महुआ वृक्ष पारंपरिक रूप से निम्नलिखित में से किस कारण से महत्वपूर्ण माना जाता है?
Options:
a) Its bark is used for paper-making
b) It is a primary host plant for lac insects
c) Its flowers are fermented to produce liquor and support tribal livelihood
d) It is cultivated for its latex used in tyre industry
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Answer: c) Its flowers are fermented to produce liquor and support tribal livelihood
Why in News:
The Mahua Nutra Beverage, developed by TRIFED and FIIT, was recently launched in Jharkhand to add value to tribal products and enhance incomes.
Explanation:
Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) is called the “Tree of Life” in Central India.
Its flowers are fermented to produce alcohol – a major source of tribal income.
It has cultural, religious, ecological and nutritional significance.
TRIFED aims to scientifically process Mahua to create non-alcoholic value-added beverages.
🧾 Q6. Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt (Statement-based)
Q6. Consider the following statements about the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt:
It is located in Greenland and is home to the oldest life fossils.
Its rocks are estimated to be over 4 billion years old.
The region is governed and protected by local Inuit communities.
Q6. नुव्वुआगिटुक ग्रीनस्टोन बेल्ट के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें:
यह ग्रीनलैंड में स्थित है और यहाँ सबसे प्राचीन जीवन के जीवाश्म पाए गए हैं।
इसके शिलाखंड 4 अरब वर्ष से अधिक पुराने माने जाते हैं।
इस क्षेत्र का प्रबंधन स्थानीय इनुइट समुदाय द्वारा किया जाता है।
Options:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: b) 2 and 3 only
Why in News:
Scientists recently dated the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt rocks to ~4.16 billion years, potentially the oldest surface rocks on Earth. The local Inuit community has restricted access to preserve the site.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect – It is in Quebec, Canada, not Greenland.
Statement 2 is correct – Rocks are dated using radiometric techniques to ~4.16 billion years.
Statement 3 is correct – The Inuit tribe governs access and has proposed a provincial park to balance conservation with research.
🧾 Q7. DNA Polymorphism (Direct MCQ)
Q7. What is the key feature of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) used in DNA fingerprinting?
Q7. डीएनए फिंगरप्रिंटिंग में प्रयुक्त शॉर्ट टैंडेम रिपीट्स (STRs) की मुख्य विशेषता क्या है?
Options:
a) They are found only in mitochondrial DNA
b) They are identical in all humans
c) They are unique, inherited sequences that differ across individuals
d) They are RNA sequences used in genome editing
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Answer: c) They are unique, inherited sequences that differ across individuals
Why in News:
The topic gained focus after DNA fingerprinting identified victims of the tragic Air India Flight AI 171 crash using STR-based profiles from bones and tissue.
Explanation:
STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) are repeating DNA sequences with unique patterns in each individual.
These are highly polymorphic, making them ideal for forensics, disaster victim ID, and paternity testing.
PCR techniques amplify these regions, which are analyzed through capillary electrophoresis.
🧾 Q8. Statistics Day 2025 (Statement-based MCQ)
Q8. Which of the following statements is/are correct about Statistics Day 2025?
It marks the birth anniversary of Dr. C. Rangarajan, renowned Indian economist.
The theme for 2025 is “75 Years of National Sample Survey”.
It is observed once every five years by the UN.
Q8. सांख्यिकी दिवस 2025 के बारे में निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा/से कथन सही हैं?
यह भारत के प्रसिद्ध अर्थशास्त्री डॉ. सी. रंगराजन की जयंती के रूप में मनाया जाता है।
2025 का विषय “राष्ट्रीय सैम्पल सर्वे के 75 वर्ष” है।
इसे संयुक्त राष्ट्र द्वारा हर पांच वर्षों में मनाया जाता है।
Options:
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1 and 3 only
Tap here for Answer
Answer: b) 2 only
Why in News:
The 19th Statistics Day will be celebrated on June 29, 2025, with the theme “75 Years of National Sample Survey” to honour the legacy of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect – It celebrates the birth of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis, not Dr. Rangarajan.
Statement 2 is correct – 2025 marks 75 years since NSS was founded in 1950.
Statement 3 is incorrect – UN Statistics Day is different, celebrated once every 5 years (20 October).
🧾 Q9. Jellyfish (Direct MCQ)
Q9. What is the primary biological classification of jellyfish?
Q9. जेलीफ़िश की मुख्य जैविक वर्गीकरण श्रेणी क्या है?
Options:
a) Mollusca
b) Echinodermata
c) Cnidaria
d) Porifera
Tap here for Answer
Answer: c) Cnidaria
Why in News:
Studies have noted a sharp increase in jellyfish blooms along Indian coasts, raising concerns about marine ecosystem balance and economic impact on fisheries and tourism.
Explanation:
Jellyfish belong to phylum Cnidaria, which includes corals and sea anemones.
They have radial symmetry, stinging tentacles, and a simple nerve net instead of a brain.
Their population “blooms” disrupt ecosystems and block fishing nets or cooling intakes of power plants.
Q10. Consider the following statements about the Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL):
It is India’s first NBFC focused exclusively on the maritime sector.
It has been granted Category-I Mini Ratna status.
It is under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Q10. सागरमाला फाइनेंस कॉर्पोरेशन लिमिटेड (SMFCL) के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें:
यह भारत का पहला समुद्री क्षेत्र-केंद्रित NBFC है।
इसे कैटेगरी-I मिनी रत्न का दर्जा प्राप्त है।
यह वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय के अधीन आता है।
Options:
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
Why in News:
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways recently inaugurated the Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, India’s first NBFC for maritime infrastructure financing.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct – SMFCL is India’s first sector-specific NBFC in the maritime domain.
Statement 2 is correct – It is a Mini Ratna, Category-I CPSE.
Statement 3 is incorrect – It is under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, not Commerce & Industry.
