Q1. The Supreme Court’s direction to constitute a tribunal for the Pennaiyar (Thenpennai) river dispute draws authority primarily from which constitutional provision?
A. Article 131
B. Article 262
C. Article 263
D. Article 280
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
Article 262 empowers Parliament to provide for adjudication of inter-State river water disputes and allows exclusion of Supreme Court jurisdiction. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 operationalises this provision.
Q2. The National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) 2.0 mainly aims to strengthen:
A. Electoral funding reforms
B. Parliamentary privileges
C. Civic engagement and constitutional literacy
D. Federal dispute resolution
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
NYPS 2.0 uses a digital platform to widen youth participation in parliamentary processes, promoting democratic values, debate culture, and constitutional awareness .
🟦 Women Empowerment & Inclusive Growth
Q3. The proposal for a women-only industrial park by Andhra Pradesh is best linked to which policy objective?
A. Export-oriented manufacturing
B. Gender-responsive industrialisation
C. Disinvestment-led growth
D. Labour code rationalisation
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
Exclusive industrial parks for women integrate gender budgeting , entrepreneurship, and MSME promotion, making industrial policy more inclusive and equity-oriented .
🟦 International Relations & Global Governance
Q4. India joining the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) primarily supports:
A. Defence technology collaboration
B. Industrial arbitration mechanisms
C. Skill development and workforce cooperation
D. Currency settlement arrangements
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
BCIC focuses on industrial skills, training, and workforce mobility , strengthening South–South cooperation within the BRICS framework.
Q5. Despite geopolitical tensions, India–China trade reaching USD 155.6 billion highlights which key concept?
A. Strategic decoupling
B. Economic interdependence
C. Trade protectionism
D. Currency substitution
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
High trade volumes despite rivalry illustrate economic interdependence , where strategic competition coexists with deep commercial ties.
🟦 Economy, Banking & Financial Sector
Q6. The World Bank-supported PM-SETU programme mainly targets improvement in:
A. Agricultural productivity
B. Urban housing finance
C. Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)
D. Startup venture capital
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
PM-SETU focuses on revamping ITIs , aligning skill training with industry needs to harness India’s demographic dividend .
Q7. The launch of co-branded and premium metal credit cards by PSBs reflects which broader trend?
A. Decline of digital payments
B. Universal basic banking
C. Segmentation and premiumisation of banking services
D. Reduction in financial inclusion efforts
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
PSBs are increasingly segmenting customers —balancing financial inclusion with premium products for high-value clients.
🟦 Science, Technology & Defence
Q8. Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology enhances missile capability primarily by enabling:
A. Short-range ballistic flight
B. Sustained high-speed propulsion
C. Nuclear payload delivery
D. Vertical launch capability
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
SFDR allows continuous combustion during flight , enabling long-range, high-speed, and highly manoeuvrable missiles , critical for next-generation warfare.
Q9. The Indian Navy’s training deployment to Thailand aligns most closely with which policy objective?
A. Look West Policy
B. SAGAR Doctrine
C. Act East Policy
D. Non-Alignment Movement
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
Naval outreach in Southeast Asia strengthens maritime diplomacy and regional security cooperation under India’s Act East Policy .
🟦 Environment, Climate & Natural Hazards
Q10. The United States’ proposed rare minerals stockpile is strategically aimed at addressing risks related to:
A. Food security
B. Energy import dependence
C. Supply-chain concentration
D. Currency volatility
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
Critical minerals like lithium and rare earths are heavily concentrated in a few countries; stockpiling reduces geopolitical and supply-chain vulnerabilities .
Q11. Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego is located in which major geological zone?
A. Alpine–Himalayan belt
B. Pacific Ring of Fire
C. Mid-Atlantic Ridge
D. East African Rift
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
Central America lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire , characterised by frequent volcanic and seismic activity.
🟦 Digital Society, AI & Ethics
Q12. Spain’s ban on social media access for children under 16 primarily raises concerns related to:
A. Net neutrality
B. Data localisation
C. Child rights and digital ethics
D. E-commerce regulation
✅ Answer: C
Explanation:
The ban reflects growing global focus on child protection, mental health, and ethical regulation of digital platforms .
Q13. Moltbook, a platform exclusively for AI agents, is most relevant to debates on:
A. Cyber warfare
B. AI autonomy and human–AI interaction
C. Quantum computing
D. Blockchain governance
✅ Answer: B
Explanation:
An AI-only social platform challenges assumptions about agency, ethics, accountability, and future digital societies , making it essay-relevant.
🟦 Personalities, Indices & Awards
Q14. The Crafoord Prize, awarded to Veerabhadran Ramanathan, is most closely associated with which field?
A. Medicine
B. Literature
C. Geosciences and climate research
D. Economics