a. 2 million dollars
b. 4 million dollars
c. 5 million dollars
d. 8 million dollars
Answer: c. 50 lakh dollars (44 crore rupees)
– U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new visa program called the ‘Gold Card.’
– This will be sold to immigrants for 5 million dollars (44 crore rupees).
– Trump stated that this card, which is a premium version of the Green Card, will provide immigrants with a “path to citizenship.”
– In the future, 1 million Gold Cards will be sold.
– He said that this visa card will open the path to U.S. citizenship.
– Trump said, “This will be a path to citizenship. And wealthy people will buy this card to come to our country. They will be rich, they will be successful, they will spend a lot of money, pay a lot of taxes, and create a lot of jobs.”
– He claimed that this initiative could help pay off the national debt quickly.
What is the EB-5 visa program?
– Currently, the EB-5 visa (Green Card) program is used to acquire U.S. citizenship. It has been in place since 1990.
– Under the EB-5 visa program, investors can apply for a Green Card by investing a minimum of 1 million dollars in a company that creates at least 10 new jobs, and they can later achieve full citizenship.
About the Gold Visa:
– The new proposed system will require an investment of 5 million dollars.
– Each application will be scrutinized.
– This could be a great opportunity for wealthy businessmen and investors from India, China, Southeast Asian countries, etc.
– It could bring significant benefits to the U.S., such as major investments, successful people, and business development.
– Trump is also interested in retaining highly talented students studying in the U.S.
Can Indians on H-1B or EB-2/EB-3 visas apply for the Gold Card?
– Yes, if they have the ability to pay the 5 million dollars for it.
– Trump referred to the Gold Card as a “path to citizenship for the wealthy or talented,” where wealthy individuals pay to allow talented individuals to enter.
– This indicates that companies could also sponsor highly skilled employees, though the details are still unclear.
How will this affect Indians considering the EB-5 visa?
– For Indians who had planned to use the EB-5 visa, the investment cost increase (from $1 million to $5 million) may make it unaffordable.
– While EB-5 investors can pool funds or take structured loans, the Gold Card requires an upfront cash payment, which limits access to India’s ultra-wealthy elite.
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2. Which country’s government carried out the most internet shutdowns in the world in the year 2024, the data of which was released by the international organization Access Now?
a. India
b. Myanmar
c. Pakistan
d. Ukraine
Answer: b. Myanmar
– According to a report by the advocacy organization Access Now, the internet was shut down 296 times worldwide in the year 2024.
– Myanmar had the highest number of internet shutdowns, with the administration shutting down the internet 85 times.
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3. According to the report of the international organization Access Now, how many times was the internet shutdown done in India in the year 2024?
a. 90 times
b. 84 times
c. 75 times
d. 65 times
Answer: b. 84 times (most internet shutdowns in Myanmar)
– According to a report, the internet was shut down 296 times worldwide in the year 2024.
– In India, a total of 84 internet shutdowns were reported. This was fewer than the 96 shutdowns in 2023.
– Information about this data was reported by The Hindu newspaper in February 2025.
Reasons for Internet Shutdowns
– In India, there were fewer internet shutdowns in 2024 compared to previous years.
– People faced shutdowns in 16 states and union territories, including Manipur (21), Haryana (12), and Jammu & Kashmir (12).
– Of the 84 shutdowns, 41 were related to protests, and 23 were linked to communal violence.
Note: The Indian government imposed a total of 780 shutdowns between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2023.
Criticism from Civil Society in India and Worldwide
– In India, authorities continue to issue internet shutdown orders due to communal tensions, violence, exams, and other reasons.
– Civil society in India and worldwide has condemned these actions, especially in Manipur, where footage of atrocities committed during ethnic violence went viral weeks after the incidents.
Top 10 Countries for Internet Shutdowns
Countries and the number of Internet shutdowns in 2024:
1) Myanmar – 85
2) India – 84
3) Pakistan – 21
4) Russia – 13
5) Ukraine – 7
6) Palestine – 6
7) Bangladesh – 5
8) Iraq – 5
9) Jordan – 4
10) Sudan – 4
Internet Shutdowns in India (2012-2024)
– 2012: 3 times
– 2013: 5 times
– 2014: 6 times
– 2015: 14 times
– 2016: 31 times
– 2017: 79 times
– 2018: 136 times
– 2019: 109 times
– 2020: 132 times
– 2021: 100 times
– 2022: 77 times
– 2023: 96 times
– 2024: 84 times
Internet Shutdowns Worldwide (2016-2024)
– 2016: 78 times
– 2017: 111 times
– 2018: 202 times
– 2019: 221 times
– 2020: 168 times
– 2021: 194 times
– 2022: 201 times
– 2023: 283 times
– 2024: 296 times
Platforms Affected by Shutdowns
– Twitter (X)
– Facebook
– WhatsApp
– YouTube
– Telegram
– Grindr
– Instagram
– TikTok
– Signal
– Snapchat
– Viber
– Skype
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4. Whom did PM Modi nominate for the campaign against obesity?
a. Omar Abdullah, Anand Mahindra, Mohanlal
b. Nirahua, Manu Bhaker, Mirabai Chanu, Nandan Nilekani
c. R. Madhavan, Shreya Ghoshal, Sudha Murthy
d. all of the above
Answer: d. all of the above
– On February 24, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed 10 people from various fields to help in the fight against obesity.
– PM Modi urged these individuals to strengthen the fight against obesity and help spread awareness about reducing the consumption of edible oil in food.
– PM Modi requested that each of these 10 people nominate 10 others so that our movement could grow larger.
– On February 23, 2025, in his “Mann Ki Baat” program, PM Modi urged people to use less oil in their food.
– He further mentioned that if every household reduces oil consumption by 10% every month, it could significantly benefit health.
Rising Edible Oil Imports
– PM Modi wants citizens to reduce edible oil consumption by 10%.
– The import consumption of edible oil, which was 2.2 billion dollars in 2006-07, has now increased to 35 billion dollars in 2023-24.
– The biggest component of this is the import of soybean from the United States.
10 People Appointed by PM Modi
1. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
2. Businessman Anand Mahindra
3. Actor Mohanlal
4. Bhojpuri singer-actor Nirahua
5. Shooting champion Manu Bhaker
6. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu
7. Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani
8. Actor R. Madhavan
9. Singer Shreya Ghoshal
10. Philanthropist and MP Sudha Murthy
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5. Which two Indian states suspended cross-border bus services between themselves in February 2025 due to escalating language dispute?
a. Rajasthan-Haryana
b. Karnataka-Maharashtra
c. Bihar-Uttar Pradesh
d. Manipur-Assam
Answer: b. Karnataka-Maharashtra
– It is reported that a bus driver from Karnataka was beaten after he could not speak Marathi when he reached Maharashtra.
– Following this, a similar incident occurred with a Maharashtra bus driver in Karnataka, as he could not speak Kannada.
– In response, the Maharashtra government announced on February 22, 2025, that the MSRTC bus service between Maharashtra and Karnataka in the Kolhapur division would be suspended for the safety of employees and passengers.
– This decision was made after an attack on a Maharashtra State Transport employee by some anti-social elements in Karnataka on the night of February 21, 2025.
– Following the attack, several people were arrested.
– Karnataka’s Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that bus services towards Karnataka could resume on February 24, 2025.
– He also called upon various linguistic communities to live in peace and harmony.
Why and When the Border Dispute Began
– On February 21, 2025, bus drivers and conductors from Maharashtra and Karnataka state transport services were attacked in Belagavi, which is the latest incident in the long-standing dispute between the two states.
– The Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute began with India’s 1956 state reorganization, and it centers around Belagavi and hundreds of surrounding villages, leading to decades of regional conflict.
– During the reorganization of states on linguistic lines, Maharashtra’s leaders had demanded that these Marathi-speaking areas be included in Maharashtra.
– This demand sparked a dispute with Karnataka (then Mysore). Karnataka’s Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were in agreement on this issue.
– The commission did not recommend including Belagavi in Maharashtra but transferred the village of Belagundi, 5 kilometers from Belagavi, to Maharashtra.
– Karnataka was given 247 villages, but there was dissatisfaction in Karnataka over losing Nipani and Khanapur.
– Even after meetings between the Chief Ministers of both states, no solution was reached. Both states stuck to their positions.
– In 2004, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court: Maharashtra had demanded the return of 814 villages from Karnataka, and the case remains pending in the Supreme Court.
The Border Dispute has Been Pending for a Long Time
– Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, stated on February 23, 2025, that the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute has been pending for a long time and urged the central government to work towards resolving the matter swiftly in the Supreme Court.
– Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh took this matter to the Supreme Court, and it has been pending for the last 25 years.
Karnataka
– Capital: Bengaluru
– Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
– Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
– Language: Kannada
– Population: 64.1 million (2014)
– Neighboring States: Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
Maharashtra
– Capital: Mumbai, Nagpur (winter)
– Chief Minister: Devendra Fadnavis
– Governor: C.P. Radhakrishnan
– Language: Marathi
– Population: 112.3 million (2011), approximately 136 million (estimated 2025)
– Neighboring States: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli
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6. Famous dancer Mayadhar Raut passed away on 22 February 2025, he was considered the father of which dance?
a. Bharatanatyam dance
b. Odyssey dance
c. Kathakali dance
d. Manipuri dance
Answer: b. Odyssey dance
– The father of Odissi dance, Mayadhar Raut, passed away on February 22, 2025, at his residence in Delhi. He was 92 years old.
– He was born on July 6, 1933, in Odisha.
– He passed away on February 22, 2025, in Delhi.
– He is called the “Pioneer Creator” of Odissi dance because, in the 1950s, he helped in the reconstruction of Odissi dance.
– In 1944, he was the first to perform on stage with the Gotipua dance.
– In 1952, he founded the Kala Vikas Kendra in Cuttack, where Odissi was taught.
– From 1970 to 1995, he was the head of the Odissi department at Raut Shriram Indian Art Center.
– In 1959, he formed the Jayantika Association, with the aim of promoting Odissi dance.
– In 1971, the famous Kamani Auditorium in Delhi was inaugurated with his performance of *Geet Govind*.
– He introduced ‘Sanchari Bhav’, ‘Mudra Viniyoga’, and ‘Rasa Siddhanta’ in Odissi dance.
Awards He Received:
– Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977)
– Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1984)
– Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985)
– Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award (2003)
– Upendra Bhanja Samman (2005)
– Tagore Academy Ratna (2011)
– Padma Shri Award (2010)
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7. When is International Mother Language Day celebrated?
a. 20 February
b. 21 February
c. 22 February
d. 23 February
Answer: b. 21 February
– The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was initiated by Bangladesh, and it was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference.
Many Languages Are Vanishing Worldwide
– It is estimated that every three and a half months, a language dies somewhere in the world. Along with it, entire cultures that have flourished for centuries and the knowledge associated with them are also lost, which is impossible to recover.
– The website ‘DownToEarth’ reports that according to the non-profit organization Ethnologue, which tracks languages worldwide, 42% (3,018) of the 7,139 languages spoken around the world are endangered. This means these languages are in various stages of extinction.
– Half of the world’s population speaks just 24 languages, including major ones like Chinese Mandarin, Spanish, English, Hindi, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, Javanese, and German.
– The number of speakers of these languages is in the millions, while on the other hand, half of the world’s population speaks 7,000 languages.
– Ethnologue’s analysis has found that half of the world’s languages have fewer than 10,000 speakers left.
– Only one percent of the global population speaks nearly 5,000 languages. Interestingly, 0.1% of the population, around 8 million people, are responsible for keeping 3,500 languages alive.
The Language Crisis in India
– The Indian Institute of Language Studies has identified 117 languages in India that are endangered, with fewer than 10,000 speakers remaining. Most of these languages are found in regions rich in biodiversity.
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8. Apart from N. Chandrasekaran, which Indian received Britain’s ‘Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’ (KBE) honor in February 2025?
a. Mukesh Ambani
b. Ratan Tata
c. Sunil Bharti Mittal
d. Azim Premji
Answer: c. Sunil Bharti Mittal (Founder of Bharti Enterprises)
– Sunil Bharti Mittal was selected for this award in February 2024 and received this honor in February 2025.
– He received the honorary knighthood medal from the British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron.
– It should be noted that in February 2025, N. Chandrasekaran (President of Tata Sons) was also honored with this award.
– Both names could be in the options.
KBE – ‘Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’
– He was honored for “services to UK-India business relations.”
– He is the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises.
– This honor is given by the King of Britain, Charles III.
– Bharti Enterprises Limited is an Indian multinational group headquartered in Delhi. It was established in 1976.
Previous Indian recipients of the honorary KBE
– Ratan Tata (2009)
– Ravi Shankar (2001)
– Jamshed Irani (1997)
– They were awarded by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
– Note: In 2025, N. Chandrasekaran and Sunil Bharti Mittal were honored.
Britain’s Honorary Knighthood
– ‘The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’ is also referred to as the British knighthood order.
– This honor is given by the King of Britain.
– It is one of the highest honors in Britain.
– The KBE is awarded for outstanding contributions in any field of activity and is conferred on foreign nationals in an honorary capacity.
– While knighthoods awarded to British citizens give them the title of Sir or Dame, non-British citizens honored with this title add KBE (or DBE for women) after their names.
Note: The current King of Britain is Charles III.
Britain
– PM – Keir Starmer
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9. When is Central Excise Day observed?
a. 22 February
b. 24 February
c. 26 February
d. 28 February
Answer: b. 24 February
– Central Excise Day is celebrated every year on February 24.
– On this day, in the year 1944, the Central Excise Act was enacted.
– The purpose of this day is to honor the employees serving in the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) for their contributions to the country.
Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC)
– Establishment: January 1, 1964
– Headquarters: New Delhi
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10. ho has been appointed the new Chief Secretary of Haryana?
a. Jitendra Tyagi
b. Anurag Rastogi
c. Vivek Joshi
d. Atul Kumar
Answer: b. Anurag Rastogi
– The Haryana government appointed Anurag Rastogi as the new Chief Secretary of the state on February 19, 2025.
– Rastogi replaces Vivek Joshi, who has been appointed as the Election Commissioner. Joshi (58) has taken up this new role.
– Additionally, Rastogi will continue to hold the charge of Additional Chief Secretary, Finance & Planning. This is because the state government is in the process of preparing the budget estimates for the year 2025-26.
– He is an IAS officer of the 1990 batch of the Haryana cadre.
Who is the Chief Secretary?
– A Chief Secretary is the highest administrative officer in a state or union territory. They are the chief advisor to the Chief Minister and oversee the functioning of all government departments in the state.
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11. In which zoo in the country was a ‘bio bank’ established for the first time to collect DNA material of animals and birds?
a. Alipore Zoo
b. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park
c. Nandankanan Zoological Park
d. National Zoo Park
Answer: b. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, West Bengal (also known as Darjeeling Zoo.)
– The country’s first ‘Bio Bank’ was inaugurated at the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in February 2025, which is also known as the Darjeeling Zoo.
– The Bio Bank, also referred to as the ‘Frozen Zoo,’ was established in July 2024.
How many samples have been collected?
– According to *The Indian Express*, the director of the Darjeeling Zoo, Basavaraj S. Holeyachi, stated that the Bio Bank was established in July 2024. So far, DNA material—cellular and tissue samples—have been collected from 60 animals of 23 species.
– He further mentioned that their priority is endangered species, and they are even collecting eggs from deceased animals. All samples are being preserved in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, which keeps them in a cryogenic state.
Importance of this Bio Bank
– This Bio Bank is extremely important for the conservation of critically endangered species. Due to environmental changes and other factors, many animal species are on the verge of extinction.
– Our goal is to collect cells and genetic material from these animals so that, if needed, the species can be revived in the future.
– Karthikeyan Vasudevan, a scientist at the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), stated that this is part of a national initiative.
– CCMB has a wildlife Bio Bank, especially in zoos like Darjeeling, where breeding centers for animals like the red panda are located.
– There are plans to establish similar Bio Banks at the National Zoological Park in Delhi and Nandankanan Zoo in Odisha.
Which animals have been revived using preserved DNA?
– Scientist Karthikeyan Vasudevan mentioned that animals like the American black-footed ferret, whose population had dwindled to only eight members, were considered extinct. However, they were revived through breeding in captivity and preserved DNA (the first clone was created from preserved DNA in 2021).
– Additionally, the northern one-horned rhinoceros, whose last male member died in 2018, is also being revived through this process.
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12. Name the Indian-origin scientist who led the US team to discover dwarf galaxies containing black holes?
a. Sudeshna Sinha
b. Savita Subramanian
c. Ragadeepika pucha
d. Sunita Narayan
Answer: c. Ragadeepika pucha
– Raga Deepika Pucha’s parents live in Tenali City, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
– According to The Times of India News, this information was revealed in February 2025.
What are Dwarf Galaxies?
– Dwarf galaxies are small in size and contain a few billion stars.
– These galaxies are dimmer and smaller in size compared to larger galaxies.
Galaxies with Black Holes of Which Size?
– Under the leadership of Indian astrophysicist Raga Deepika Pucha, a team of scientists in the U.S. has discovered the largest samples to date, which include dwarf galaxies with medium-sized and active black holes.
– These findings are three times more than previously recorded black holes and dwarf galaxies, which will further help in understanding the evolution of dwarf galaxies and black holes.
– This discovery may open new opportunities to explore the development of early black holes in the universe.
How Many Dwarf Galaxies Identified?
– The scientist from Andhra Pradesh and her team have identified more than 2,500 dwarf galaxies, including those with Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN).
– Now, approximately 2% of dwarf galaxies host AGN, which is much higher than the previous 0.5%.
– This study has also revealed that scientists are missing low-mass, previously unseen black holes.
What Instrument Was Used to Gather Data?
– Raga Deepika Pucha’s team collected the largest information on dwarf galaxies so far using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI).
– According to a statement from NoirLabs, DESI is an advanced instrument that captures light from 5,000 galaxies at once.
– This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Science Office.
– Using the initial data from DESI, Deepika’s team has gathered the largest data on dwarf galaxies with actively feeding black holes. This is also the most detailed collection of medium-sized black hole candidates to date.
– This five-year project is in its fourth year, and by the end of the project, nearly 40 million galaxies will be studied.
What is a Black Hole?
– A black hole is a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape it.
– The space around it looks so dark and black that it appears completely black.
– This is why it is called a “black hole.”
– Black holes can be both large and small.
Note: In August 2022, NASA recorded the sounds around a black hole.
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