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1. At which place in Jammu and Kashmir did terrorists kill about 26 people in April 2025, which was the biggest terrorist attack after Pulwama?
a. Gulmarg
b. Pahalgam
c. Leh
d. Poonch
Answer: b. Pahalgam
– Around 26 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir on the afternoon of April 22, 2025.
– The attack occurred at 2:45 PM on Tuesday in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, leaving more than 20 people injured.
– It is reported that the terrorists came dressed in army uniforms.
Who Claimed Responsibility?
– The Resistance Front (TRF), a wing of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
– After the firing, the terrorists fled the scene.
– Intelligence sources revealed that the Pahalgam attack involved two foreign terrorists and two local ones.
– Meanwhile, two terrorists attempting to infiltrate through Uri were gunned down by the army.
Pakistan’s Response
– A day after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday claimed that Pakistan had no involvement in the incident, in which at least 25 tourists were killed and many others injured.
– However, Indian officials are not satisfied with Pakistan’s denial, as initial investigations revealed the presence of foreign terrorists among those who opened fire on civilians.
Biggest Attack Since Pulwama
– This is the biggest attack in Jammu & Kashmir since the Pulwama attack on February 14, 2019.
– The Pulwama attack involved a suicide bombing on a CRPF convoy, in which 40 soldiers were martyred.
– The attack was claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Pahalgam Route Crucial for Amarnath Yatra
– The Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 3 and will continue until August 9. The Pahalgam route is a key path for the pilgrimage.
– It takes 3 days to reach the cave via this route, but the path is easier and does not have steep climbs.
– The first stop from Pahalgam is Chandanwari, which is 16 km from the base camp. The ascent begins from there.
Jammu & Kashmir
– Chief Minister: Omar Abdullah
– Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
– Capitals: Jammu and Srinagar
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2. Pope Francis died on 21 April 2025, he was the highest religious official of which Christian community in the whole world?
a. Catholic
b. Protestant
c. Orthodox
d. All of the above
Answer: a. Catholic
How Did Pope Francis Die?
– Pope Francis passed away in Vatican City on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
– He had been suffering from long-term lung-related issues.
– As his bronchitis worsened, he was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital on February 14, 2025.
– Although he was discharged from the hospital on March 23, 2025, his treatment continued.
Ultimately, he passed away on April 21, 2025.
– He was the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church and served for 12 years.
– He was also the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years.
How is the Pope’s Death Confirmed?
– The Catholic Church has 252 senior clergy members worldwide known as Cardinals.
– India also has five Cardinals.
– Among them, the most senior Cardinal is called the Camerlengo, and he is responsible for officially announcing the Pope’s death.
– Currently, this responsibility lies with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is of Irish origin.
Where Is a Pope Buried?
– A pope’s body is typically buried about a week after death. This process is led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals.
– Traditionally, popes are buried in the Vatican Grottoes, located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
– However, in a 2023 interview, Pope Francis had expressed his wish to be laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Who Is the Pope and How Influential Is the Position?
– Christianity consists of several branches such as Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.
– Among these, the Pope is the highest spiritual authority in the Catholic Church.
– The pope operates from Vatican City, the smallest sovereign nation in the world.
– In most Christian nations, the pope is regarded as the supreme spiritual leader.
– Beyond religious matters, the pope’s views also hold significant influence on social and political issues globally.
Since When Was Pope Francis in Office?
– The position of the pope is traditionally held for life.
– However, on February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI broke with this tradition by resigning due to health reasons.
– It was the first time in history that a pope voluntarily stepped down.
– After his resignation, Pope Francis was elected and assumed office in March 2013.
Who Can Become Pope?
– Any male who is a baptized follower of the Catholic faith is eligible to become pope.
– Baptism is an essential sacrament in Catholicism; after undergoing it, a person is officially recognized as a Catholic.
What Is the Process for Selecting a New Pope?
– About three weeks after the pope’s funeral, a highly secretive and traditional process to elect a new pope begins.
– The election takes place in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where Cardinals from around the world gather.
– Although there are a total of 252 Cardinals, only those under the age of 80 are eligible to vote—about 120 Cardinals.
– From India, four Cardinals under 80 are eligible to vote in the papal conclave: Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Cardinal Cleemis Baselios & Cardinal Anthony Poola
– Cardinal George Alencherry (also known as George Jacob Koorappallil or Koovakad)
– A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope.
– If no candidate receives enough votes after four rounds of voting, the process continues with new ballots.
– After each unsuccessful vote, black smoke is emitted from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
– When a new pope is chosen, white smoke appears, signaling to the world that a decision has been made.
Does the New Pope Change His Name?
– Yes, by tradition, the newly elected pope chooses a new name, which he will be known by throughout his papacy.
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3. When is the World Book and Copyright Day observed?
a. 22 April
b. 23 April
c. 26 April
d. 28 April
Answer: b. 23 April
– World Book Day is also known as World Book and Copyright Day.
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4. Name the oldest and active NASA astronaut who landed on Earth from the space station on his 70th birthday (20 April 2025)?
a. Raja Chari
b. Don Petit
c. Ivan Wagner
d. Aleksey Ovchinin
Answer: b. Don Petit
– Don Pettit, NASA’s oldest astronaut, celebrated his 70th birthday in a remarkable way.
– He turned 70 just as he completed a seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and landed back on Earth on April 20, 2025.
Landing via Russian Spacecraft
– On April 20, Don Pettit landed near the city of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-26.
– He was accompanied by Russian crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner.
– NASA shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) congratulating Pettit on his 70th birthday.
Mission Highlights
– During their 220-day mission in space, Pettit and his fellow astronauts orbited the Earth 3,520 times, covering a distance of 93.3 million miles.
– This was Pettit’s fourth spaceflight.
– Over his 29-year career, he has spent more than 18 months in orbit.
– The trio’s seven-month journey was just slightly shorter than the 9-month stay of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams.
– Originally sent for a one-week mission in June 2024, Wilmore and Williams had to remain on the space station for nine months due to a technical issue with their spacecraft.
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5. Which city has the Andhra Pradesh government planned to make the world’s first city to be run completely on renewable energy?
a. Vijayawada
b. Guntur
c. Amravati
d. Krishna
Answer: c. Amravati
– According to The Economic Times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon lay the foundation stone for Amaravati, a greenfield capital city on the banks of the Krishna River.
– The project is a dream of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and is deeply aligned with India’s broader commitment to clean energy and climate action.
– This massive project, estimated at ₹65,000 crore, will span an area of 217 square kilometers, within the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region, which covers 8,352 square kilometers.
– With this investment, Amaravati is envisioned to become an eco-friendly, clean energy-based, and smartly planned urban center.
Target of 2,700 Megawatts of Clean Energy
– One of the standout features of Amaravati’s development is its target to generate 2,700 megawatts of electricity, entirely from solar, wind, and hydro power sources.
– This amount will not only meet the projected energy demand by 2050 but will also eliminate the need for fossil fuels like coal.
– As of now, at least 30% of this energy is planned to be generated from solar and wind sources.
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6. When is Chinese Language (Mandarin) Day celebrated?
a. 24 April
b. 23 April
c. 22 April
d. 20 April
Answer: d. 20 April
– There are six official languages of the United Nations, namely Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
– The second most widely spoken language in the world is Chinese.
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7. The Government of India announced the imposition of temporary safeguard duty of what percent on select categories of steel imports?
a. 10%
b. 12%
c. 15%
d. 20%
Answer: b. 12%
– This decision came into effect on April 21, 2025.
– Its primary aim is to curb the sharp increase in low-cost steel imports, especially from countries like China, South Korea, and Japan.
– Due to this surge in imports, India has become a net importer of finished steel for the second consecutive year.
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8. Who assumed charge as Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in April 2025?
a. Shiv Prasad Kimothi
b. Dr. Sanjay Kumar
c. Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
d. Rajiv Varshney
Answer: c. Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
– On April 21, 2025, Dr. Mangi Lal Jat took charge as the Secretary of DARE (Department of Agricultural Research and Education) and Director General of ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).
– His appointment was announced by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
About Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
– Dr. Mangi Lal Jat is a renowned agricultural scientist.
– He is internationally recognized in the field of sustainable agriculture.
– He has over 25 years of experience in agricultural science, climate-resilient farming, and conservation agriculture.
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9. Who was the topper of Civil Services Examination (UPSC) 2024?
a. Shakti Dubey
b. Shah Margi Chirag
c. Ayushi Bansal
d. Aditya Vikram
Answer: a. Shakti Dubey
– The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) released the final result of the Civil Services Examination 2024 on April 22, 2025.
– Shakti Dubey from Prayagraj has secured All India Rank 1.
– A total of 1009 candidates have made it to the merit list.
Topper – Shakti Dubey
– Shakti Dubey completed her graduation from Allahabad University and pursued her post-graduation in Biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 2016.
– Her optional subjects in the UPSC exam were Political Science and International Relations.
Top 3 Rank Holders
– Shakti Dubey – Rank 1
– Harshita Goyal – Rank 2
– Originally from Haryana, Harshita has been living in Vadodara, Gujarat for several years.
– She is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and has worked with Belief Foundation in Ahmedabad, supporting children suffering from thalassemia and cancer.
Archit Parag Dongre – Rank 3
– Archit holds a B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from VIT, Vellore.
– One of his optional subjects was Philosophy.
11 Women Among Top 25 UPSC Rank Holders
– Three women secured positions in the Top 5 list of UPSC toppers.
– A total of four women are featured in the Top 10.
– The Top 25 includes 11 female candidates.
– The toppers come from prestigious institutions such as IITs, NITs, VIT, JNU, Delhi University, and Allahabad University, holding degrees in Engineering, Humanities, Science, Commerce, Medical Science, and Architecture.
– The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 was held on June 16, 2024.
– A total of 9,92,599 candidates applied, out of which 5,83,213 appeared for the examination.
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10. RBI has permitted the banks to allow minors up to what age and above to independently open and operate savings and fixed deposit accounts?
a. 10
b. 11
c. 13
d. 14
Answer: a. 10
– The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new guidelines on April 21, 2025, allowing banks to permit minors aged 10 years or above to open and operate their own savings and term deposit accounts independently.
New Guidelines: Key Points
– Minors aged 10 years or above:
– They can now independently open and manage their savings or term deposit accounts, subject to the bank’s internal risk management policy.
Minors under 10 years of age:
– They can also open accounts, but these must be operated by their natural or legal guardian.
Banking Services for Minors:
– Banks may, based on their risk management policy, offer services like internet banking, debit cards, cheque books, etc., to minor account holders.
Upon Turning 18:
– When a minor turns 18, banks are required to obtain fresh operating instructions and signature specimens from the account holder.
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