1. How many total medals did Indian grapplers win at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championship, including gold, silver, and bronze medals?
(A) 6
(B) 7
(C) 8
(D) 9
(E) 10
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
Indian grapplers clinched a total of 8 medals in freestyle wrestling, including 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals.
Abhimanyu (70 kg), Jointy (92 kg), Sahil Jaglan (97 kg), and Anirudh (125 kg) bagged the gold medals.
Rohit (65 kg) and Jaideep (74 Kg) contributed with silver, while bronze was secured by Shubham (57 kg) and Amit (79 kg).
Kazakhstan took 2nd place while Kyrgyzstan won 3rd.
2. Which company signed an agreement with NewSpace India for a 2026 satellite launch?
(A) Space Machines
(B) SpaceX
(C) Blue Origin
(D) ISRO
(E) OneWeb
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Space Machines partners with NewSpace India to launch its second Optimus spacecraft via a Small Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2026, aiming to offer in-orbit satellite repositioning services and reduce space debris.
The $8.5 million MAITRI mission will see collaboration between several Australian and Indian entities, leveraging both nations’ space capabilities.
3. What significant discovery was made in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, which confirms the presence of ostriches in southern India?
(A) Fossilized ostrich eggs
(B) Ancient ostrich bones
(C) Cave paintings of ostriches
(D) A 41,000-year-old ostrich nest
(E) Ostrich feathers
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
The 41,000-year-old ostrich nest found in Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, confirms the presence of ostriches in southern India, offering crucial evidence of their existence.
This discovery adds to research on megafauna extinction in India, supporting the theory that human arrival around 30,000 years ago contributed to their decline.
4. Where are the advanced UAV testing facilities being built in India?
(A) Bangalore
(B) Chennai
(C) Hyderabad
(D) Mumbai
(E) Kolkata
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
The Ministry of Defence has signed an MoU to establish three advanced testing facilities in Chennai for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Electro-Optics (EO) under the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor.
Keltron, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and India Optel Limited (IOL) are the lead SPV members for UAS, EW, and EO testing facilities respectively.
5. In July 2024, who inaugurated the Weapon Systems School at Begumpet, Hyderabad?
(A) Manoj Pande
(B) Vivek Ram Chaudhari
(C) Anil Chauhan
(D) R. K. S. Bhadauria
(E) Arjan Singh
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
IAF Chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari inaugurated the Weapon Systems School at Begumpet, Hyderabad.
This new school will have 4 branches:
Flying Stream will operate the weapons and systems in airborne platforms like the Sukhoi-30 MKI and C-130J.
The remote stream will operate Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
Mission Commanders and Operators for Surface to Air and Surface-to-Surface weapon systems.
Intelligence stream for handling space-based intelligence and imagery.
6. Where did the 16th edition of the Joint Military Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ between India and Mongolia take place?
(A) Ladakh
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Sikkim
(D) Meghalaya
(E) Himachal Pradesh
Solution: Option D.)
Ans (D)
India-Mongolia Military Ex. ‘Nomadic Elephant’ commenced in Meghalaya.
The 16th edition of the Joint Military Exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ between the armies of India and Mongolia started in Meghalaya’s Umroi.
The 15th edition of this exercise was conducted in Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar.
This exercise aims to enhance interoperability between two armies in carrying out semi-conventional operations in semi-urban/mountainous terrain.
7. Recently, who has been sworn in as the Netherlands’ new Prime Minister?
(A) Dick Schoof
(B) Mark Rutte
(C) Geert Wilders
(D) Sigrid Kaag
(E) Wopke Hoekstra
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Dick Schoof, former head of the Dutch Secret Service, was sworn in as the Netherlands’ new Prime Minister, ending a seven-month political impasse after the far-right’s electoral victory.
Schoof succeeded Mark Rutte, who is set to become NATO’s next Secretary-General, taking office on October 1 amid European security concerns due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
8. What is the purpose of the NIRMAN Portal launched by Union Minister G Kisan Reddy?
(A) To assist UPSC aspirants in exam preparation
(B) To provide financial assistance to farmers
(C) To promote rural development initiatives
(D) To facilitate skill development training
(E) To monitor environmental conservation projects
Solution: Option A.)
Ans (A)
Union Minister G Kisan Reddy launched the NIRMAN Portal for UPSC aspirants.
The NIRMAN portal is a CSR initiative by Coal India Limited to support meritorious UPSC aspirants from its operating districts.
The scheme provides Rs 1 lakh to Preliminary exam qualifiers with annual family incomes below 8 lakhs, belonging to SC, ST, female, or third-gender categories.
NIRMAN stands for “Noble Initiative for Rewarding Mains Aspirants of National Civil Services Examination.”
9. What initiative did the State Bank of India (SBI) unveil to facilitate quick MSME loans?
(A) Digital Bharat MSME
(B) MSME Sahaj
(C) MSME Quick Loan
(D) Digital Loan Express
(E) Instant MSME Financing
Solution: Option B.)
Ans (B)
State Bank of India unveiled “MSME Sahaj – End to End Digital Invoice Financing” to facilitate quick MSME loans via its Yono application.
This web-based solution allows MSMEs to apply, document, and receive disbursement of loans up to ₹1 lakh within 15 minutes, without manual intervention.
Aimed at GST-registered Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, it provides short-term working capital.
10. What mechanism has India expanded to facilitate trade with Myanmar?
(A) Rupee-Ngultrum Mechanism
(B) Rupee-Rupiah Mechanism
(C) Rupee-Kyat Mechanism
(D) Rupee-Ringgit Mechanism
(E) Rupee-dong Mechanism
Solution: Option C.)
Ans (C)
India Expands Trade with Myanmar through Rupee-Kyat Mechanism.
The Rupee-Kyat trade mechanism has been started between India and Myanmar.
India has exported pulses worth more than 1 crore rupees to Myanmar for the 1st time under the Rupee-Kyat trade agreement.
This initiative, operationalized by Punjab National Bank’s Yangon office, aims to boost bilateral trade and encourage the use of local currencies for maritime and border trade between nations.