Search Previous Year Questions

The correct answer is L Satya Srinivas.

Key Points

• L Satya Srinivas was appointed as India's Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in September 2025.
• He replaced the outgoing Executive Director and joined the team responsible for representing India's interests at the ADB.
• The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank headquartered in Manila, Philippines, established in 1966 to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific region.
• India is among the founding members of the ADB and holds a significant position in the bank's operations and governance.
• As an Executive Director, Srinivas is expected to play a pivotal role in ensuring India's developmental priorities align with ADB's policies and funding mechanisms.

Additional Information

• G Aparna Rao:
• No recent information or significant appointments have been found about G Aparna Rao related to the Asian Development Bank or similar institutions in 2025.
• She might be a prominent figure in another domain; however, she is not associated with this appointment.
• Pankaj Kumar Mishra:
• No credible information or association with the Asian Development Bank in the context of Executive Director appointments in 2025.
• He could be involved in other government or administrative roles unrelated to the ADB.
• Sanjay Bahadur:
• Similarly, no recent news or appointments link Sanjay Bahadur to the Asian Development Bank in 2025.
• He may hold other key roles outside the scope of this specific appointment.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB):
• The ADB works to foster economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve living standards in the Asia-Pacific region.
• It provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to its member countries for various development projects.
• India has been a major beneficiary of ADB funding for infrastructure, energy, and social development projects.
• ADB’s governance structure includes a Board of Governors and a Board of Directors, with representatives from member countries.

The correct answer is Gujarat.

Key Points

• In 2025, Gujarat became the first state in India to empanel sign language interpreters and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
• This initiative aims to assist children with special needs during judicial proceedings, ensuring their rights and access to justice.
• The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, mandates special provisions for children in conflict with the law and children in need of care and protection.
• Empaneling sign language interpreters and special educators ensures inclusivity and compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India ratified in 2007.
• The move is a significant step toward empowering children with disabilities, providing them a fair opportunity for justice, and addressing their unique requirements.

Additional Information

• Juvenile Justice Act, 2015:
• The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, governs the care, protection, and rehabilitation of children in conflict with the law and children in need of care and protection.
• It emphasizes the importance of child-friendly procedures in judicial proceedings to ensure children’s rights are protected.
• The Act also provides for the establishment of Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees.
• Special Educators and Sign Language Interpreters:
• Special educators are professionals trained to work with children with disabilities, tailoring educational methods to their needs.
• Sign language interpreters facilitate communication for individuals with hearing and speech disabilities.
• Their inclusion in judicial processes ensures accessibility and compliance with disability rights.
• Other States and Disability Inclusion:
• Punjab, West Bengal, and Bihar have implemented several disability-related initiatives but have not yet empaneled interpreters and educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
• Gujarat’s move sets a precedent for other states to adopt similar measures for inclusivity.

The correct answer is Interactive Flat Panel Display.

Key Points

• In the Union Budget 2025-26, the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on Interactive Flat Panel Displays was increased from 10% to 20%.
• This measure was taken to promote domestic manufacturing under the “Make in India” initiative and reduce dependency on imports.
• Interactive Flat Panel Displays are widely used in education, corporate environments, and conference setups, making them a significant part of the electronics and technology market.
• The increased duty is expected to boost local production capacity and encourage investment in this sector.
• This step aligns with India’s goal of reducing the import of non-essential electronic items and achieving self-reliance in technology and manufacturing.

Additional Information

• Lithium-Ion Batteries
• Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles.
• India has been focusing on boosting the domestic production of lithium-ion batteries to reduce reliance on imports, especially for the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
• The government has introduced the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to promote local manufacturing of advanced chemistry cells, including lithium-ion batteries.
• Wet Blue Leather
• Wet blue leather refers to semi-processed leather that has been treated with chromium salts to prevent decomposition.
• India is one of the leading exporters of leather products, but wet blue leather is often regarded as an intermediate product in the leather value chain.
• The government has been encouraging higher-value processing of leather to increase export earnings instead of exporting semi-processed leather.
• Carrier Grade Ethernet Switches
• Carrier-grade Ethernet switches are used in telecommunications networks to provide high-speed data transfer and reliability.
• They are critical for the deployment of advanced communication networks such as 5G and broadband infrastructure.
• India has been working on enhancing the local production of such components under schemes like the PLI for telecom and networking products.

The correct answer is Remove human encroachments from channels and depopulate floodplains wherever necessary.

Key Points

• Removing human encroachments from flood channels prevents blockages that exacerbate flooding during heavy rainfall.
• Depopulating floodplains is a structural measure to mitigate flood impacts as it reduces risk to life and property in areas prone to frequent flooding.
• Floodplains are natural buffers during heavy rainfall; clearing encroachments ensures unhindered flow of water and reduces the likelihood of waterlogging and inundation.
• Such measures are aligned with sustainable urban planning practices and disaster risk reduction initiatives promoted by organizations like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• These actions also allow proper utilization of floodplains for activities such as agriculture or as natural ecosystems, which can absorb excess water and reduce flood intensity.

Additional Information

• Flood management in India:
• Flood management involves structural measures like embankments, flood shelters, and drainage systems, along with non-structural measures like early warning systems, zoning regulations, and public awareness campaigns.
• The NDMA and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) play a pivotal role in implementing flood mitigation strategies in India.
• Sustainable urban planning, afforestation in catchment areas, and community participation are integral to reducing flood risks.

The correct answer is ₹3,350.00 crore.

Key Points

• The total allocation for the Ministry of Minority Affairs in the Union Budget 2025-26 is ₹3,350.00 crore.
• This allocation is aimed at supporting the welfare of minority communities through various schemes and programs.
• The ministry focuses on socio-economic and educational development initiatives for minorities, including scholarships, skill development, and infrastructure development.
• Some flagship schemes under this allocation include the "Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)" and pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for minority students.
• The allocation has been made to empower and uplift minority communities as a part of the government's inclusive growth strategy.

Additional Information

• Ministry of Minority Affairs:
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs was established in 2006 to ensure a focused approach to the issues related to the minorities and to facilitate their growth.
• It administers programs such as the "Nai Roshni" scheme for leadership development of minority women, "Seekho aur Kamao" for skill development, and the "USTTAD" scheme for promoting traditional arts and crafts.
• The ministry also oversees initiatives like the "Maulana Azad National Fellowship" and "Padho Pardes" for the educational advancement of minority students.

The correct answer is To ensure future food and nutritional security.

Key Points

• The second 'Gene Bank' for crop germplasm is aimed at preserving genetic material to address challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity.
• It serves as a repository for seeds and genetic material of crops, ensuring their availability for future generations.
• Crop germplasm conservation contributes to developing resilient crop varieties capable of withstanding environmental stressors such as droughts, floods, and pest attacks.
• This initiative aligns with India's commitment to sustainable agriculture and safeguarding the food and nutritional security of its population.
• The gene bank enhances research opportunities, enabling scientists to innovate and improve crop yields and nutritional profiles.

Additional Information

• Gene Banks and Their Role
• Gene banks play a pivotal role in preserving plant genetic resources, ensuring their availability for future research and breeding programs.
• They act as insurance against the loss of biodiversity due to factors like climate change, habitat destruction, and over-exploitation.
• India already has an established National Gene Bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), and the creation of a second gene bank further strengthens its efforts in sustainable agriculture.

The correct answer is Photosynthesis.

Key Points

• Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose (sugar) and oxygen.
• This process primarily occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, which contain the green pigment chlorophyll that absorbs light energy.
• The chemical equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
• Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth as it produces oxygen, which is vital for the survival of most living organisms, and it forms the base of the food chain.
• The two main stages of photosynthesis are: Light-dependent reactions (occur in the thylakoid membranes and produce ATP and NADPH) and Calvin Cycle or light-independent reactions (occur in the stroma and produce glucose).

Additional Information

• Germination
• Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a seedling under favorable environmental conditions such as water, oxygen, and temperature.
• It begins with the absorption of water (imbibition), which activates enzymes that break down stored food in the seed to provide energy for growth.
• The primary stages include radicle (root) emergence, plumule (shoot) development, and growth into a young plant.
• While germination is crucial for plant growth, it does not involve the production of sugars through sunlight and carbon dioxide.
• Respiration
• Respiration is a biological process in which glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen to release energy in the form of ATP.
• The chemical equation for aerobic respiration is: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP).
• Unlike photosynthesis, respiration occurs in all living organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes, and it does not produce sugars but rather utilizes them as a source of energy.
• Fermentation
• Fermentation is an anaerobic process (occurs in the absence of oxygen) in which glucose is partially broken down to produce energy.
• Products of fermentation depend on the organism: for example, yeast produces ethanol and carbon dioxide, while lactic acid bacteria produce lactic acid.
• Fermentation is used in various industries, such as brewing, baking, and dairy production, but it does not involve photosynthesis or sugar production through sunlight and carbon dioxide.

The correct answer is Maharashtra Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.

Key Points

• The Maharashtra government has proposed the Maharashtra Swasthya Suraksha Yojana to provide financial assistance for high-cost medical treatments exceeding ₹5 lakh.
• This scheme aims to cover treatments such as organ transplants, cancer treatments, and other critical illnesses requiring significant financial resources.
• The initiative is designed to bridge the gap in medical coverage for families who are unable to afford expensive treatments under existing schemes.
• It is expected to leverage the infrastructure and network of empaneled hospitals across the state for delivering these specialized healthcare services.
• The scheme aligns with the state's larger objective of ensuring universal health coverage and reducing the financial burden on economically weaker sections.

Additional Information

• Ayushman Bharat State Plan
• This is a modified version of the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), tailored to the needs of individual states.
• The scheme provides health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare services.
• While beneficial, it does not cover medical treatments exceeding ₹5 lakh, which necessitated the introduction of Maharashtra Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
• Free Insurance for Critical Illness
• This is a general concept rather than a specific scheme in Maharashtra.
• Critical illness insurance plans typically cover diseases such as cancer, heart attacks, kidney failure, and strokes, but they might not address the high costs of organ transplants or other advanced treatments.
• Such plans are often provided by private insurance companies rather than state governments.
• Creation of a Special Corpus Fund for Such Treatments
• This option refers to the establishment of a dedicated financial reserve to support high-cost medical treatments.
• While it is a feasible approach, Maharashtra has chosen to implement the Maharashtra Swasthya Suraksha Yojana for a structured and sustainable solution instead of a one-time corpus fund.

The correct answer is Gol Gumbaz.

Key Points

• Gol Gumbaz is the tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, the Sultan of Bijapur (Vijayapura), and is located in Karnataka, India.
• The monument is renowned for its massive dome, which is one of the largest unsupported domes in the world, measuring approximately 44 meters in diameter.
• Gol Gumbaz was constructed in 1656 and represents the architectural brilliance of the Deccan Sultanate.
• The structure is famous for its acoustic features, particularly the whispering gallery, where even the faintest sound can be heard clearly across the chamber.
• The monument is built using dark grey basalt and features Indo-Islamic architectural elements such as arches, domes, and minarets.

Additional Information

• Wazir Khan Mosque
• The Wazir Khan Mosque is located in Lahore, Pakistan, and is a renowned example of Mughal architecture.
• It was built in the 17^th century during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan.
• The mosque is celebrated for its intricate tile work and frescoes, which adorn its walls and arches.
• Pari Mahal
• Pari Mahal, also known as the “Palace of Fairies,” is located in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.
• It was built by Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan, in the mid-17^th century.
• This structure served as a library and an observatory for Dara Shikoh and is surrounded by beautiful gardens.
• It is unrelated to the Deccan Sultanate or Gol Gumbaz.
• Hazira Maqbara
• Hazira Maqbara is a tomb located in Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
• It is the resting place of Qutb-ud-Din Muhammad Khan, a Mughal governor of Gujarat.
• The monument is known for its Indo-Islamic architecture, featuring domes and intricate carvings.

The correct answer is bisexual flowers.

Key Points

• Mustard, rose, and petunia are examples of plants with bisexual flowers, also referred to as perfect flowers.
• A bisexual flower contains both male (stamens) and female (carpels) reproductive organs in the same flower, making it capable of self-pollination.
• Bisexual flowers ensure higher chances of reproduction and do not rely solely on external pollinators, although cross-pollination can still occur.
• These flowers are common in angiosperms and are characterized by their ability to perform both male and female reproductive functions.
• Some other examples of plants with bisexual flowers include sunflower, lily, and hibiscus.

Additional Information

• Dioecious flowers
• Dioecious plants have unisexual flowers, meaning the male and female flowers are borne on separate plants.
• Examples of dioecious plants include papaya and date palm.
• This arrangement prevents self-pollination and ensures cross-pollination, which promotes genetic diversity.
• Incomplete flowers
• An incomplete flower is one that lacks one or more of the four main floral parts: sepals, petals, stamens, or carpels.
• Examples include corn and squash.
• These flowers can be either unisexual or bisexual.
• Unisexual flowers
• Unisexual flowers contain either stamens (male reproductive organs) or carpels (female reproductive organs), but not both.
• Examples include cucumber, pumpkin, and watermelon.
• They can occur in monoecious plants (both male and female flowers on the same plant) or dioecious plants (male and female flowers on different plants).