Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

Key Points

• The partnership between Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and NVIDIA was announced during the NVIDIA AI Summit 2024 held in Mumbai, marking a significant step toward India's technological autonomy.
• The collaboration aims to build sovereign AI infrastructure, ensuring that data generated within India is processed and stored locally to maintain data security and national sovereignty.
• The project focuses on developing gigawatt-scale AI factories, which are massive data center infrastructures optimized for the Blackwell GPU architecture and NVIDIA InfiniBand networking.
• L&T will leverage its extensive expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) to integrate NVIDIA's full-stack AI platform into large-scale, sustainable power and cooling systems.
• This initiative is designed to support Indian startups, enterprises, and government agencies by providing the high-compute power necessary for training Large Language Models (LLMs) and deploying generative AI solutions.

 Additional Information

• NVIDIA's Strategic Ecosystem in India:
• Wipro: Collaborated with NVIDIA to train its workforce on NVIDIA AI Enterprise and develop custom AI solutions for the healthcare and financial sectors.
• Infosys: Integrated NVIDIA's AI software into its Topaz suite to accelerate the adoption of AI-first services across global enterprises.
• Tech Mahindra: Established a Center of Excellence (CoE) powered by NVIDIA Omniverse to drive innovation in industrial AI and digital twin technology.
• Sovereign AI Concept: Refers to a nation's ability to produce artificial intelligence using its own infrastructure, data, and workforce, reducing reliance on foreign digital platforms.

The correct answer is Enhancement of self-employment opportunities.

Key Points

• The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in June 2011 to address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty in rural India.
• Its primary objective is to create efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
• The mission focuses on promoting self-employment by mobilizing rural poor households into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and federating them into higher-level institutions.
• NRLM operates on the principle that the poor have innate capabilities and a strong desire to come out of poverty, provided they are organized and their capacities are built through social mobilization and skill development.
• The mission provides a revolving fund and community investment support fund to SHGs to strengthen their financial base and facilitate internal lending among members.

 Additional Information

• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM):
• In November 2015, the program was renamed as DAY-NRLM to expand its scope and reach across all Gram Panchayats in the country.
• It replaced the earlier Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), shifting from a target-oriented approach to a demand-driven saturation approach.
• The program receives partial funding through a credit from the International Development Association of the World Bank.
• Key sub-schemes include the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), which focuses on empowering women in agriculture, and the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) for local micro-enterprises.
• While healthcare, infrastructure, and water supply are vital rural development sectors, they are managed under different schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PMGSY, and Jal Jeevan Mission respectively.

The correct answer is Medal-winning performance while eight months pregnant.

Key Points

• Meghana Sajjanar, a seasoned Indian rifle shooter, achieved a historic milestone at the Asian Shooting Championships 2026 by winning a medal while being eight months pregnant.
• Her achievement is noted for the immense physical and mental endurance required, as the 10m Air Rifle event demands extreme postural stability, breath control, and balance, all of which are significantly altered during the third trimester of pregnancy.
• By competing at such an advanced stage of pregnancy, she challenged traditional sporting norms and demonstrated that high-performance athletics and motherhood can coexist effectively.
• The performance received widespread acclaim within the international shooting community, drawing comparisons to other elite athletes who have competed while pregnant, thereby promoting a more inclusive narrative for women in sports.
• Sajjanar maintained a high level of technical precision throughout the qualifications and finals, proving that her cognitive focus remained unaffected by the physical rigors of her condition.

 Additional Information

• Meghana Sajjanar:
• She is a prominent International Shooter from India, specifically representing the state of Karnataka at the domestic level.
• She has been a consistent performer for the Indian National Shooting Squad, participating in events like the ISSF World Cups and the Asian Games.
• Her primary discipline is the 10m Air Rifle Women, a category known for its highly competitive nature and narrow margins of victory.
• Asian Shooting Championships:
• This is a major continental championship organized by the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC).
• The championships are crucial for athletes to secure Olympic Quota places and improve their World Rankings.

The correct answer is Monthly per capita consumption expenditure of a household.

Key Points

• In India, the estimation of the Poverty Line is traditionally based on consumption expenditure rather than income levels. This is due to the high volatility of income in the informal sector and the difficulty in accurately capturing self-employed earnings.
• The Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) is the primary metric used. It is calculated by aggregating the total value of goods and services consumed by a household and dividing it by the total number of household members.
• Data for these estimations is historically collected through large-scale sample surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), which now functions under the National Statistical Office (NSO).
• A person is identified as Below Poverty Line (BPL) if their MPCE is lower than the threshold defined by the government for a specific period and region (rural or urban).
• This methodology ensures that the minimum subsistence level, including food and essential non-food items like clothing and rent, is accounted for in the national poverty headcount ratio.

 Additional Information

• Several expert groups have shaped India's poverty estimation over the decades:
• Tendulkar Committee (2009): Moved away from a purely calorie-based approach to include expenditures on health and education.
• Rangarajan Committee (2014): Proposed a higher MPCE threshold and used a separate consumption basket for rural and urban areas based on nutritional requirements.
• NITI Aayog: Currently serves as the nodal agency for poverty estimation, periodically constituting task forces to refine the Poverty Line methodology.
• Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): While the official method uses MPCE, the NITI Aayog also releases a National MPI to capture deprivations across health, education, and standard of living.

The correct answer is Zagreb Open.

Key Points

• Manisha Bhanwala is a distinguished Indian wrestler who competes primarily in the 62kg women's freestyle category.
• The Zagreb Open is an elite international wrestling tournament held in Zagreb, Croatia, and is part of the United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series.
• The victory at this Ranking Series event is significant as it provides crucial seed points that determine brackets for the World Championships and Olympic Games.
• Winning a gold medal at such a high-caliber event underscores the athlete's dominance and technical skill on the global stage against international competitors.

 Additional Information

• United World Wrestling (UWW):
• The international governing body for amateur wrestling, responsible for regulating freestyle and Greco-Roman styles.
• It manages the World Wrestling Rankings and oversees qualification for the Summer Olympics.
• World Championships:
• An annual global tournament where athletes compete for the title of World Champion across various weight classes.
• Asian Games:
• A continental multi-sport event held every four years, featuring elite athletes from across Asia, where wrestling is a major medal event.
• Commonwealth Games:
• A quadrennial international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations, where India has historically been very successful in wrestling.

The correct answer is 1994.

Key Points

• HDFC Bank Limited was incorporated in August 1994 as a private sector bank, following the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy to liberalize the Indian banking sector.
• The bank was promoted by the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC), which was a pioneer in housing finance in India since 1977.
• It received its banking license from the RBI in 1994 and commenced operations as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in January 1995.
• The bank's registered office was established in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and its first corporate office and full-service branch were opened at Sandoz House, Worli.
• As one of the first new-generation private sector banks, it aimed to provide professional management and high-tech banking services to the Indian market.

 Additional Information

• Major Mergers and Acquisitions:
• In February 2000, HDFC Bank merged with Times Bank, which was the first merger of two new-generation private banks in India.
• In 2008, the bank acquired Centurion Bank of Punjab, significantly enhancing its retail assets and distribution network.
• On July 1, 2023, HDFC Bank completed a landmark merger with its parent company, HDFC Limited, making it one of the largest financial institutions in the world.
• Governance and Leadership:
• The bank is currently led by Sashidhar Jagdishan, who serves as the Managing Director and CEO.
• The Chairman of the Board of Directors is Atanu Chakraborty.
• Global and Domestic Status:
• HDFC Bank is consistently ranked as India's largest private sector bank by market capitalization and assets.
• It is categorized as a Domestic Systemically Important Bank (D-SIB) by the RBI, indicating its critical importance to the Indian economy.

The correct answer is 2005.

Key Points

• The Government of India officially notified Sanskrit as a Classical Language in October 2005, following a decision by the Union Cabinet.
• Sanskrit was the second language to receive this prestigious status, coming shortly after Tamil was designated as the first classical language in 2004.
• The criteria for declaring a language as Classical were established by the Ministry of Culture, requiring a recorded history of early texts spanning 1500 to 2000 years.
• To qualify, the language must possess a body of ancient literature and an original literary tradition that is not borrowed from another speech community, ensuring it represents a unique heritage.

 Additional Information

• Timeline of Classical Languages in India:
• Tamil: Accorded the status in 2004.
• Sanskrit: Accorded the status in 2005.
• Telugu and Kannada: Recognized in 2008.
• Malayalam: Recognized in 2013.
• Odia: Recognized in 2014.
• October 2024 Additions: The Cabinet recently approved Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali for classical status.
• Institutional Benefits:
• The Ministry of Education provides benefits such as two major International Awards annually for eminent scholars of these languages.
• A Centre of Excellence for Studies is established for the respective language to promote research and preservation.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) creates Professional Chairs in Central Universities to foster academic growth and linguistic preservation.

The correct answer is Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).

Key Points

• The Ministry of Education, acting on the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), officially declared the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) as a Deemed to be University in April 2025.
• This status is granted under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, which allows high-performing institutions to enjoy academic status and privileges similar to those of a traditional university.
• Located in Pune, Maharashtra, FTII is an autonomous institution functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India.
• The transition empowers the institute to award its own formally recognized degrees, including Master of Arts (MA), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), replacing the previous system of awarding diplomas.
• Established in 1960 on the historic grounds of the Prabhat Studio, FTII has been a premier training ground for cinema and television professionals in India and the wider South Asian region.

 Additional Information

• Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC):
• Inaugurated in 1965 by Indira Gandhi, it is a premier institute for journalism and mass communication training located in New Delhi.
• It was also granted the Deemed to be University status under the 'Distinct Category' in February 2024.
• National School of Drama (NSD):
• Based in New Delhi, it was established in 1959 and became an independent entity under the Ministry of Culture in 1975.
• It is renowned globally for its intensive training in Dramatic Arts and its role in shaping contemporary Indian theatre.
• Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT):
• Located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, it is a prominent private media school established in 1993.
• It offers specialized vocational training in film production, direction, and cinematography.

The correct answer is International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Key Points

• In August 2025, a collaborative effort between the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) led to the launch of an AI-powered WhatsApp climate advisory service.
• This digital tool is specifically designed for farmers in Maharashtra to provide real-time, location-specific weather forecasts and crop-management strategies.
• The service utilizes Generative AI and Machine Learning algorithms to analyze vast datasets from local weather stations and satellite imagery, translating complex meteorological data into simple, actionable advice.
• Farmers receive alerts regarding pest infestations, irrigation schedules, and harvesting windows, directly on their mobile devices, minimizing the digital divide in rural areas.
• The initiative aims to enhance climate resilience in regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada, which are frequently affected by erratic monsoon patterns and drought.

 Additional Information

• ICRISAT:
• Founded in 1972, it is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Patancheru, Hyderabad.
• It specializes in research for development in the semi-arid tropics, focusing on nutritious crops like chickpea, pigeonpea, and millets.
• ICAR:
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Established in 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research, it is headquartered in New Delhi and oversees one of the largest agricultural research networks globally.
• Technological Impact:
• The use of WhatsApp as a delivery platform ensures high penetration, as the app is widely used across India, requiring minimal technical literacy from the end-user.
• By providing precision agriculture tools, the collaboration helps in reducing the input costs for farmers by optimizing the use of fertilizers and water.

The correct answer is Do or Die.

Key Points

• The Quit India Movement, also recognized as the August Kranti, was formally launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay.
• The iconic slogan 'Do or Die' (Karo ya Maro) was issued by Gandhi during his address to the All-India Congress Committee, signifying that Indians should either free the country or die in the attempt.
• The movement emerged primarily due to the failure of the Cripps Mission, which did not offer a satisfactory proposal for Indian self-rule during World War II.
• Despite the immediate arrest of top leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad under Operation Zero Hour, the movement spread nationwide as a decentralized struggle against British imperialism.

 Additional Information

• Swaraj is my birthright:
• This slogan was famously declared by Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Lokmanya) to advocate for Swaraj or self-governance during the early 20^th century.
• Inquilab Zindabad:
• Originally coined by the poet Hasrat Mohani, this slogan, meaning 'Long Live the Revolution', was popularized by the revolutionary Bhagat Singh and the HSRA.
• Simon Go Back:
• This phrase was used by Indian protestors in 1928 to voice their opposition to the Simon Commission, which lacked any Indian representation in its constitutional review process.