1. Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, that was recently making news, is located in which state?
A. Odisha
B. Chhattisgarh
C. Jharkhand
D. Madhya Pradesh
- The Odisha government, having successfully relocated deer from Cuttack, plans to introduce Sambar and Gaur (bison) in the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary. Located in the Khurda district, it marks the northeastern boundary of the Eastern Ghats. Designated as a sanctuary in 1982, the area hosts various endangered wildlife and birds.
2. Green Rooms, recently in the news, is associated with which country?
A. Russia
B. Israel
C. Ukraine
D. Iran
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Denmark recently launched “green rooms” in Ukraine. The “green rooms” are specially equipped spaces that facilitate interactions between police officers and child survivors and witnesses of crime. The goal is to build trust in law enforcement among children and youth.
3. Which IIT recently collaborated with Altair to establish the eMobility Simulation Lab?
A. IIT Bombay
B. IIT Madras
C. IIT Kanpur
D. IIT Roorkee
- The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with Altair to establish the eMobility Simulation Lab. Altair is a global tech company that specializes in simulation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence.
4. Who has been appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal?
A. Daljit Singh Chaudhary
B. Kumar Rajesh Chandra
C. Sanjay Arora
D. Rajni Kant Mishra
- Senior IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary has been appointed as the Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a central armed police force guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. This key appointment aims to enhance strategic expertise in managing crucial border areas, addressing emerging security challenges.
5. Recently, which temple presented the ceremonial bow, known as the ‘Onavillu,’ to the Ayodhya Ram Temple?
A. Arulmigu Ranganathaswamy Temple
B. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple
C. Sri Guruvayoorappan Temple
D. Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple
- Representatives from Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra will receive the traditional ceremonial bow, ‘Onavillu,’ from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, holds significance in epics and puranas. Balarama is mentioned to have visited, bathed in Padmatheertham, and made offerings. Onavillu, a bow-shaped instrument with puranic inscriptions.
6. Bhitarkanika National Park is located in which state?
A. Odisha
B. Gujarat
C. Rajasthan
D. Kerala
- Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha faces impending connectivity with the proposed Jajpur Road-Dhamra railway line traversing through it. Established in 1998, this 672 km² park, located in the Kendrapara district, ranks as India’s second-largest mangrove ecosystem. Its delta formed by Brahmani, Baitarani, and Dhamra rivers. It houses diverse flora like Thespia and fauna such as endangered saltwater crocodiles. The area, a Ramsar Site since 2002, showcases a rich intertidal biodiversity and diverse wildlife.
7. Pulikulam cattle breed is an indigenous cattle breed of which state?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Andhra Pradesh
D. Odisha
- Interest in indigenous cattle breeds, such as the Pulikulam, is experiencing a resurgence, particularly due to the breed’s association with the popular local game called Jalikattu in Tamil Nadu, India.
- The Pulikulam is renowned as a versatile draught and game breed native to Tamil Nadu, specifically originating from Pulikulam village in the Sivaganga district. Also known by various names like Palingu maadu, Mani maadu, Jallikattu maadu and Kilakattu maadu, these cattle are kept as migratory herds.
8. Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, which was recently in news, is located in which state?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Karnataka
D. Andhra Pradesh
- The Prime Minister visited Guruvayur Temple during his two-day Kerala trip, praying at the Sreekrishna Temple. Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, known as the Dwarka of the South, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna’s young form. Located in Guruvayur, Kerala, the temple dates back to the 17th century. The temple also houses a significant number of captive male Asian elephants in the nearby Punnathur Kotta elephant sanctuary.
9. Recently seen in the news, the ‘Soliga’ community resides in which River Basin region?
A. Kaveri River Basin
B. Godavari River Basin
C. Thamirabarani River Basin
D. Mahanadi River Basin
- The book “Forgotten Trails: Foraging Wild Edibles” by Malemleima Ningombi and Harisha RP explores the Soligas and Yeravas tribes’ traditional food practices in the Cauvery Basin. Soligas, among the oldest indigenous communities in Karnataka, forage from the Ghats, relying on honey and Silver–cockscomb, a nutrient-rich leafy green. The scientific community honored them with a wasp genus (Soliga ecarinata).
10. What is the primary objective of ‘Boeing Sukanya Programme’, recently launched by Prime Minister of India?
A. To establish a new manufacturing unit for Boeing Aircraft in India
B. To foster the entry of girls into the aviation sector, supporting and empowering them in STEM fields and aviation careers
C. To provide scholarships to 100 thousand girls in government schools
D. To introduce a new aviation technologies exclusive to the Indian Market
- On January 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Boeing’s global engineering and technology center near Bengaluru, a Rs 1,600 crore investment making it Boeing’s largest facility outside the U.S. The Boeing India Engineering and Technology Centre (BIETC) at Hightech Defence and Aerospace Park includes the launch of the Boeing Sukanya Programme, fostering the entry of girls into the aviation sector. This initiative supports and empowers girls and women in STEM fields and aviation careers.
11. ‘Operation Sarvashakti’, recently seen in news, launched by which armed force?
A. Indian Army
B. Indian Air Force
C. Indian Navy
D. Indian Coast Guard
- The Indian Army initiated ‘Operation Sarvashakti’ in Jammu and Kashmir to counter terrorism, focusing on the Pir Panjal range. Terrorists had ambushed Indian troops in Rajouri and Poonch. The Pir Panjal Range, a significant mountain chain in the Western Himalayas, spans Himachal Pradesh, disputed Jammu and Kashmir, and extends into Pakistan. Serving as the largest range in the Lesser Himalayas, it acts as a natural barrier, separating the Kashmir Valley from the Jammu region.
12. Who is the author of Tamil novel, ‘Naanthaan Aurangzeb’ (Conversations with Aurangzeb)?
A. Charu Nivedita
B. Devi Bharathi
C. Nandini Krishnan
D. Ambai
- Nandini Krishnan translated the Tamil novel Naanthaan Aurangzeb in English as “Conversations with Aurangzeb” by Charu Nivedita into English. The book is a combination of historical novel and satire, and is a commentary on the current times. It tells the story of a writer who meets the spirit of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who then tells his side of the story.
13. Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, recently seen in the news, is located in which state?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Haryana
C. Punjab
D. Sikkim
- The Indian government is actively promoting nature tourism at 16 Ramsar sites, including Chilika Lake and Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary. Sultanpur National Park, formerly Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, spans 1.42 sq km in Haryana’s Gurgaon district, recognized as a Ramsar site in 2021. Featuring tropical and dry deciduous vegetation, it hosts over 320 bird species.
