PDF Download: Click here
1. Virgin coconut oil of which Union Territory was given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag?
a. Puducherry
b. Chandigarh
c. Andaman and Nicobar
d. Lakshadweep
Answer: c. Andaman and Nicobar
– The Virgin Coconut of Nicobar has received the GI tag.
– Virgin coconut oil is made from coconuts using traditional methods.
– It is prepared without refining or bleaching. It contains no additional chemicals or preservatives.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his happiness about the GI tag on January 19, 2025, during the Man Ki Baat program.
– He also stated that women involved in virgin coconut oil production will be organized into self-help groups for economic empowerment.
GI Tag
– It is a symbol mainly given to link a product to its region of origin.
– The Registrar of Geographical Indications, operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, grants the tag.
– Its headquarters is located in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.
—————
2. When did the Lokpal of India celebrate the first Lokpal Foundation Day?
a. 14 January 2025
b. 15 January 2025
c. 16 January 2025
d. 17 January 2025
Answer: c. 16 January 2025
– The first establishment day ceremony of India’s Lokpal was held on January 16, 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
– The Lokpal of India was established with the implementation of Section 3 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, on January 16, 2014.
– The ceremony was attended by India’s Chief Justice, Justice Sanjeev Khanna, and other distinguished personalities.
What is Lokpal?
– Lokpal is an anti-corruption constitutional body. The head of this institution is commonly referred to as the Lokpal.
– First Chairman: Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose
– Current Chairman: Justice A.M. Khanwilkar
Functions and Powers of Lokpal
– The jurisdiction of the Lokpal includes the Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officers of Grades A, B, C, and D. Additionally, the Lokpal can investigate the Chairperson, members, officers, and directors of any board, corporation, society, trust, or autonomous body.
– The Lokpal is the apex body for investigating corruption charges against central government officials.
————–
3. Which President of America did Donald Trump become in January 2025?
a. 46th
b. 45th
c. 47th
d. 48th
Answer: c. 47th
– Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025.
– Donald Trump achieved a landslide victory in the USA this time.
– He is from the Republican Party.
– He had previously served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
– During his campaign, he was shot at, but he narrowly escaped. The bullet grazed his ear.
– Presidential candidate Kamala Harris lost the election. She is from the Democratic Party.
Meaning of Trump’s Victory
– With the White House, Senate, and House under Republican control, Trump and his party will find it easier to implement their policies.
– Trump has full control over the Republican Party.
– On the global front, tensions may ease as the new administration will focus more on domestic issues, and the world will need the United States for reconstruction.
– It is very likely that Europe will be positively affected by this result, and Europe may also get back on track.
The American President is Considered the Boss of the World
– Although the United States may not be as powerful as before, its dominance in all international institutions still remains.
– India, which has been working for a long time to reform the United Nations so that large countries like India can have their voices heard and get proper representation, will only achieve this if the United States is on board.
– The United States is still the largest donor to international institutions.
– Any decision made in the U.S. impacts not only India but the politics of the entire world.
– Trump repeatedly promised to focus on resolving international issues, especially bringing a swift resolution to this war.
—————
4. Which country decided to abolish the birthright citizenship law in January 2025, which was stayed by the court there?
a. Canada
b. America
c. Australia
d. Mexico
Answer: b. America
– Donald Trump took the oath as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, at the U.S. Capitol Hill.
– Immediately after taking the oath, he issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship in his country. Donald Trump ordered the denial of birthright citizenship to children born to parents who are living in the U.S. illegally or on temporary visas.
– Trump gave a 30-day period to implement this order.
– However, the court declared this executive order unconstitutional and suspended it. This means that the order will not be implemented at the moment.
What is Birthright Citizenship?
– Anyone born in the United States is considered a citizen from birth, which comes from the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1868.
– The amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”
– The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 also defines citizens and includes similar language.
– The court now believes that birthright citizenship is part of the Constitution, and it can only be removed through a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
How is Citizenship Obtained?
– There are two ways in which children acquire citizenship around the world. First, the Right of Soil, meaning that a child born in a particular country automatically becomes a citizen of that country.
– Second, the Right of Blood, meaning that a child’s citizenship is determined by the nationality of the parents.
Reason for Changing the Law
– The U.S. President claims that people from poor and war-torn countries come to the U.S. and give birth to children.
– These people stay in the U.S. based on studies, research, or employment.
– Once the child is born, they automatically gain U.S. citizenship.
– By acquiring citizenship, the parents also gain a legal reason to stay in the U.S.
– According to a 2022 report by the Pew Research Center, 1.6 million Indian children acquired U.S. citizenship because they were born there.
– However, Trump’s order states that this will only apply to those born in the U.S. 30 days after the date of the order.
– This means that future generations of Indians in the U.S. will be affected by this rule.
—————
5. Who became the new Vice President of America?
a. Elon Musk
b. Howdy Modi
c. Usha Vance
d. JD Vance
Answer: d. JD Vance
– JD Vance became the Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2025.
– The Vice President has the right to preside over the Senate of the United States.
————–
6. In January 2025, five years after the Covid pandemic, cases of which virus raised concerns in many countries including India?
a. CMPV
b. HMPV
c. HPMW
d. CMMC
Answer: b. HMPV
HMPV Meaning: Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV)
– The first case of the HMPV virus was reported in India on January 6, 2025.
– This first case was from Karnataka, found in an 8-month-old baby.
– There are more than 15 cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in the country.
– The infection from this virus is mostly being found in children and the elderly.
India’s Response
– There has been a sharp rise in HMPV infection cases in China.
– Following this, concerns were raised in India as well.
– The Director General of Indian Health Services, Dr. Atul Goyal, has reassured the public.
– He stated that there is no need to panic about this situation.
Where Have Cases Been Found in India?
– Karnataka
– Gujarat
– West Bengal
– Tamil Nadu
– Chennai
– Nagpur
– Mumbai
– Uttar Pradesh
– Rajasthan
– Assam
– Puducherry
What is the HMPV Virus?
– HMPV is an RNA virus that typically causes cold-like symptoms. It is most prevalent during the cold season.
Where Was the Virus First Identified?
– According to the American Lung Association, HMPV was first identified in the Netherlands in 2001.
– This virus is similar to the coronavirus, causing problems like shortness of breath.
How Did the Issue Begin?
– In recent months, videos surfaced on social media showing a large number of patients in hospitals in China.
– These patients exhibited flu-like symptoms.
– After this, concerns grew that a new virus in China was posing a threat to the public.
– As a result, discussions about this virus began to spread worldwide.
What Are the Symptoms of the Virus?
– Cough
– Fever
– Runny nose
– Difficulty breathing
– Sore throat
How to Prevent It?
– Maintain cleanliness.
– Wash hands before eating.
– Avoid contact with infected individuals.
– Get tested if you have symptoms like cough, cold, or fever.
What’s Happening in China Regarding This Virus?
– According to some news reports, China has stated that the spread of the virus is showing signs of slowing down, but the risk remains. The outbreak in China is expected to decrease after February 2025.
– The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on January 10, 2025, that it has been in close contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding respiratory diseases.
Is There a Possibility of Another Pandemic Like COVID-19?
– Some experts believe that the likelihood of a pandemic like COVID-19 has been exaggerated. Typically, such pandemics are caused by new viruses, but this is not the case with HMPV.
—————
7. In which state Kokborok Language Day was organized on 19 January?
a. Manipur
b. Punjab
c. Tripura
d. Assam
Answer: c. Tripura
– Every year on January 19, Tripura celebrates “Kokborok Day” to promote the Kokborok language.
– On this day in 1979, the Kokborok language was officially recognized for the first time.
– It is also known as Tripuri Language Day. It is an important cultural event of the state.
– According to the 2001 census, the number of Kokborok speakers was approximately 695,000.
—————
8. When is Parakram Diwas celebrated?
a. 22 January
b. 23 January
c. 24 January
d. 25 January
Answer: b. 23 January
– Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday on January 23 is celebrated as “Parakram Divas” (Day of Courage).
– This was announced by the Ministry of Culture in 2021.
– Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha (then part of Bengal Division).
– In 1920, he passed the Civil Services examination in England but left the job to join the Indian independence struggle.
– In 1938, Netaji was elected as the president of the Indian National Congress.
– To free India from British rule, Netaji established the “Azad Hind Government” on October 21, 1943, and formed the “Azad Hind Fauj” (Indian National Army).
– On July 4, 1944, Bose and his army reached Burma (now Myanmar), where he gave the famous slogan, “Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi dunga” (Give me blood, and I will give you freedom).
– Netaji went missing after a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945.
– Three inquiry commissions were formed regarding the incident, two of which claimed that Netaji had died after the crash.
– However, the third inquiry commission, headed by Justice MK Mukherjee, claimed that Netaji was alive after the incident.
————–
9. Where was the world’s largest Mahamrityunjay Yantra established?
a. Ujjain
b. Prayagraj
c. Mathura
d. Haridwar
Answer: b. Prayagraj
– The Mahamrityunjaya Yantra has been established at the Tapovan Ashram in the Jhunsi Haveli area of Prayagraj.
What is Mahamrityunjaya Yantra?
– “Mahamrityunjaya” means “Victory over Death.”
– A ground-breaking ceremony for the Mahamrityunjaya Yantra took place just before the start of the Mahakumbh.
– The Mahakumbh Mela is ongoing in Prayagraj from January 13, 2025, and will continue until February 26.
– The Mahamrityunjaya Yantra has become a central attraction at the Mahakumbh.
– From January 14, 2025, 151 acharyas (spiritual leaders) have been chanting the Mahamrityunjaya mantra.
What is the Mahamrityunjaya Yantra like?
– Its design resembles the spine (merudanda), symbolizing the flow of energy and cosmic connection.
– It is 52 feet in length, 52 feet in width, and 52 feet in height.
– The 52 letters of the Mahamrityunjaya mantra represent the 52 energy centers of the body and the country.
– These 52 letters are linked to the Hindi alphabet and 52 sounds, which reveal the foundational principles of Sanatan Dharma.
– The Yantra will be constructed over 52 days.
– Its cost is 4 crore rupees.
————–
10. The Central Government has decided to revise which financial year as the new base year for GDP calculation?
a. 2020-21
b. 2022-23
c. 2023-24
d. 2024-25
Answer: b. 2022-23
– The new base year for GDP calculation has been set as 2022-23.
– Earlier, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revised the base year from 2004-2005 to 2011-2012 in 2015.
What is a Base Year?
– A base year serves as a benchmark against which national statistics such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Domestic Savings, and Gross Capital Formation are calculated.
– GDP refers to the total value of all goods and services produced within a country. It is known that GDP is mainly of two types:
(1) Nominal GDP: It measures the value of all goods and services at current prices (prices prevailing in the present year).
(2) Real GDP: Unlike nominal GDP, it measures the value of all goods and services at the prices of a base year.
– Prices of the base year are considered constant, while prices in the current year may vary.
– Generally, the base year is a representative year, and it is chosen ensuring that no significant economic or natural events, such as floods, droughts, or earthquakes, occurred in that year.
– When selecting the base year, it is also ensured that it is close to the current year so that an accurate assessment of the economy can be made. It is noteworthy that base years are typically changed every 7 to 10 years in the country, keeping this requirement in mind.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
– For an economy or country, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total value of all goods and services produced in that country during a financial year.
– In India, a financial year is considered from April 1 to March 31.
GDP = Private Consumption + Gross Investment + Government Investment + Government Spending + (Exports – Imports)
Gross Value Added (GVA)
– The concept of GVA was introduced starting the financial year 2015-2016.
– GVA is the monetary value of the total final goods and services produced by all sectors of an economy—primary, secondary, and tertiary.
GVA = GDP + Subsidy – Taxes on Products
————–
11. USA lifted the ban from which Indian institutions in January 2025 after two decades?
a. BARC
b. IGCAR, IRE
c. BHEL
d. Both a and b
Answer: d. Both a and b (BARC, IGCAR, IRE)
1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) [Mumbai]
2. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) [Chennai]
3. Indian Rare Earths (IRE) [Mumbai]
– On the 15th, the United States removed these three companies from its “Entity List.”
– After India’s nuclear tests in 1998, the US had imposed restrictions on more than 200 entities.
What is the Entity List?
– The Entity List is used to control trade with entities that the USA deems a risk to its national security or foreign policy.
– The Entity List is issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
United States (USA)
– The United States, also called America, is a country located in North America.
– Capital: Washington
– President: Donald Trump
– Vice President: JD Vance
– Currency: US Dollar
—————
12. Who has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award 2025?
a. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
b.Parachute Field Hospital
c.Rajendra Kumar Bhandari
d.8th Battalion NDRF
Answer: a. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
– INCOIS, Hyderabad has been selected for the Subhas Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award 2025 in the institutional category.
INCOIS
– INCOIS was established in Hyderabad in 1999.
– It is a part of the disaster management strategy.
– It set up the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, which provides tsunami alerts within 10 minutes.
– It serves 28 countries in the Indian Ocean region, including India.
– UNESCO has recognized it as a top tsunami service provider.
– INCOIS provided assistance during the 2013 Phailin and 2014 Hudhud cyclones.
– Thanks to its efforts, people could be evacuated on time, reducing the risk for coastal populations.
– INCOIS was also honored with the Geospatial World Excellence Award for Marine Services in 2024 and the Disaster Risk Reduction Excellence Award in 2021.
About the Award
– The Subhas Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award, presented by the Government of India, is given to individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to disaster management.
– This award is announced every year on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
– The award includes a certificate and ₹51 lakh for institutions, and ₹5 lakh and a certificate for individuals.
—————
13. Which country will host the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025?
a. Russia
b. India
c. Singapore
d. America
Answer: b. India
– The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has confirmed India’s hosting of the tournament.
– The event will be held in India from October 31 to November 27, 2025.
– The tournament will follow a knockout format, with more than 200 players from around the world participating.
– Previously, the FIDE World Cup was hosted in India in 2022 in Chennai and in 2002 in Hyderabad.
– Viswanathan Anand is the only Indian player to win the FIDE World Cup.
– He won the title consecutively in 2000 and 2002.
– In 2023, R. Praggnanandhaa made history by winning the silver medal. He lost to Magnus Carlsen in the final, but his achievement attracted the attention of chess enthusiasts worldwide.
Note – The FIDE World Cup and FIDE World Championship are separate events. In the 2024 Championship, D. Gukesh won the title at the youngest age of 18.
FIDE Headquarters: Lausanne (Switzerland)
—————
14. Which country has become the first country in South East Asia to implement gay marriage law?
a. Thailand
b. Nepal
c. Taiwan
d. Estonia
Answer: a. Thailand
– The law allowing same-sex marriage came into effect in Thailand on January 23, 2025.
– Following this, several same-sex couples registered their marriages.
– Thailand is the third major country in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to recognize same-sex marriage.
– Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on the social platform X, stating that today the Rainbow Flag (LGBTQ+ flag) is flying proudly in Thailand.
– The new marriage law uses gender-neutral terms instead of male, female, husband, and wife.
– The law also grants marriage rights to transgender individuals.
– The demand for legalizing same-sex marriage in Thailand has been ongoing for 20 years.
– Now that the law has been passed, anyone aged 18 or older can marry a same-sex partner.
Situation of LGBTQ+ individuals in India
– According to research by the PEW Research Center on the LGBTQ+ community, Canada has the highest acceptance at 85%, and the US at 72%.
– In 31 countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, and the US, same-sex marriage is legal under their constitutions.
– According to the Mood of the Nation survey, 62% of people in India are not willing to accept same-sex marriage.
– In 13 countries, including Yemen, Iran, Brunei, Nigeria, and Qatar, same-sex couples can face the death penalty.
– In India, same-sex marriage was criminal until 2018, but after a Supreme Court ruling, physical relationships between same-sex individuals were decriminalized under Section 377 of the IPC.
India’s Supreme Court Refused to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
– On October 17, 2023, India’s Supreme Court rejected the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
– A five-judge constitutional bench stated that the Court cannot amend the Special Marriage Act, only interpret and enforce it.
– Then Chief Justice DY Chandrachud mentioned that deciding whether changes to the Special Marriage Act are necessary is the Parliament’s responsibility.
Thailand
– Capital: Bangkok
– Monarch: Vajiralongkorn
– Prime Minister: Paetongtarn Shinawatra
– Language: Thai
– Currency: Thai Baht
– Neighboring countries: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia
—————
15. Who has been appointed as the Additional Director General (ADG) of Border Security Force (BSF)?
a. Mahesh Kumar Agarwal
b. GP Singh
c. Sheikh Darvesh
d. Shailesh Kumar Yadav
Answer: a. Mahesh Kumar Agarwal
– On January 19, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs appointed Mahesh Kumar Agarwal to the position.
– Mahesh Kumar Agarwal is a 1994 batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, and he will serve in this position for four years.
– Prior to this appointment, he served as the Special Director General of Police (SDGP) for Armed Police in Tamil Nadu.
– He has also held positions as the Commissioner of Chennai and Madurai.
– On December 29, 2024, he was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP).
– In June 2024, he served as the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Enforcement Bureau.
– He has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
BSF (Border Security Force)
– Director General of BSF: Dilip Singh Chowdhary
– BSF Headquarters: New Delhi
– Establishment: December 1, 1965
—————
PDF Download: Click here
