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1. Where was the 6th edition of the India-Japan joint exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ held in February-March 2025?
a. Foreign Training Node, Belgaum
b. Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan
c. East Fuji Maneuver Training Area, Shizuoka Prefecture
d. Camp Imazu, Shiga Prefecture
Answer: c. East Fuji Maneuver Training Area, Shizuoka Prefecture
– The 120-member Indian delegation was primarily led by soldiers of a battalion from the Madras Regiment.
– It also included troops from other military units and military support units.
– The Japanese delegation was represented by soldiers from the 34th Infantry Regiment.
Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’
– Duration: From 25th February to 9th March 2025.
– 6th Edition: Held at the East Fuji Maneuver Training Area, Japan.
-5th Edition: Held at the Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.
– It is an annual military exercise.
– The exercise is alternately held in India and Japan.
– The aim of this military exercise is to enhance better coordination between the two armies during joint urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate. The exercise focuses on physical fitness, joint planning, and collective strategic operations.
Other Military Exercises between India and Japan:
– Dharma Guardian (Army)
– Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) [Navy]
– Malabar Exercise (India-USA-Japan-Australia) [Navy]
About Japan:
Japan is an island nation in East Asia.
Capital: Tokyo
Prime Minister: Shigeru Ishiba
Emperor: Naruhito
Population: 124.5 million (2023)
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2. The first detailed map of which region of the Moon was created using data obtained from Chandrayaan-3 Rover Pragyan.
a. north pole
b. south pole
c. meridian
d. none of these
Answer: b. south pole
– According to *The Hindu* newspaper, this information was obtained in February 2025.
– Astronomers are very excited to see the first detailed geological map of the Moon’s southern polar region, as this map is expected to shed new light on the origin and development of the Moon.
– The new map of the Vikram lander’s landing site, published in the *Advances in Space Research Journal* on January 20, 2025, shows a wavy landscape of high and low flat plains around the lander.
Who Prepared This Map:
– Researchers from Ahmedabad’s Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Chandigarh’s Punjab University, and ISRO’s Electro-Optics System Laboratory used data received from the Pragyan rover to prepare this map.
– As you may know, in August 2023, the rover Vikram reached the Moon’s surface to analyze the chemical composition of loose rocks and dust (regolith) in a nine-day mission.
Help in Solving the Magma Mystery:
– According to *The Hindu* newspaper, the geophysical data obtained from the mission helped scientists confirm that there had once been an underground ocean of molten rock, or primordial magma, on the Moon.
– Previous missions, like the USA’s unmanned Surveyor spacecraft, manned Apollo moonshots, and robotic Russian Luna and Chinese Chang’e 3 probes, had suggested the presence of a lava sea beneath the lunar surface.
– However, the actual extent of magma on the Moon was unknown, as all available data came from landing sites near the lunar equator and mid-latitudes, far from the poles.
– Chandrayaan-3, which landed in the high-latitude polar region of the Moon, 630 km from the southern pole, was the first mission to study this area.
– Scientists considered it the best chance to solve the magma mystery. In September 2024, a team of lunar geologists from PRL announced that the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer on the Pragyan rover had detected magma beneath the landing site. This meant that an ancient ocean of molten lava once spread across the entire Moon.
Scientists Estimated the Age of This Area:
– Using the map, researchers estimated the area’s age to be approximately 3.7 billion years, which is nearly the same as when the first signs of microbial life appeared on Earth.
Similar Origin of Earth and Moon:
– Scientists believe that the development paths of Earth and the Moon were similar, as seen in the dynamics of the Earth-Moon system.
– For example, the tilt of the Moon’s orbit is related to Earth’s rotational speed.
– There are also similarities in the geochemistry of Earth and the Moon, both of which contain many similar isotopes, pointing to their origin from the same molten material.
How It Was Formed 4.5 Billion Years Ago:
– According to astronomers, about 4.5 billion years ago, when the planets of the solar system were forming from debris orbiting the Sun, Earth collided with a large planetary-sized rock, the size of Mars.
– The debris generated by the collision was explosively scattered, and before cooling down over millions of years, the proto-planetary material gradually melted into a ball, which was eventually captured by Earth’s gravity and became the Moon we see today.
Note: In the early days, asteroids and space rocks would have struck the Moon, as evidenced by the craters visible on its surface. The Vikram lander landed near one of the Moon’s oldest craters: the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest impact craters in the solar system.
What Are Lunar Craters?
– Lunar craters are an interesting subject for astronomers and planetary geologists, who study their development to understand the impact craters on Earth and other inner planets of the solar system.
– Lunar craters are depressions found on the Moon’s surface, typically caused by the impact of meteoroids, asteroids, or comets. The impact is so intense that it creates deep and wide craters on the Moon’s surface. Since the Moon has no atmosphere, these craters remain unchanged for billions of years.
Chandrayaan-3 Key Points:
– When was Chandrayaan-3 launched? July 14, 2023
– Which rocket was used for the launch? Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3)
– When did it soft-land on the Moon? The evening of August 23, 2023
– Where did it land on the Moon? South Pole (Southern Polar Region)
– Name of the rover: Pragyan
– Name of the lander: Vikram
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3. Who inaugurated the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025 in February 2025?
a. Draupadi Murmu
b. Narendra Modi
c. Amit Shah
d. Nitin Gadkari
Answer: b. Narendra Modi (Prime Minister)
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this summit in Guwahati, Assam, on February 25, 2025.
– On February 26, 2025, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address the closing session of the summit.
– PM Modi stated that Assam’s natural resources and its strategic location as the gateway to Southeast Asia make it a preferred destination for investors. He also mentioned that Assam’s economy has doubled in size to ₹6 lakh crore.
Significant Investments in Assam:
– Reliance and Adani Group announced investments of ₹50,000 crore each in various sectors in Assam.
– These investments will be made in sectors such as airports, aero-city, urban gas distribution network, power transmission, cement, and road construction.
Which Countries Were Present?
– During the inauguration of the “Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025,” representatives from high-level business delegations of partner countries such as Bhutan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan, along with ambassadors from 61 countries, were also present.
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4. US aerospace company Astroforge aims to mine an asteroid using which spacecraft?
a. Odin
b. Explorer-1
c. mars polar lander
d. deep space 2
Answer: a. Odin (robotic spacecraft)
– The American company Astroforge launched its second spacecraft, Odin, via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on February 26, 2025.
– It is a microwave-sized robotic spacecraft.
– The target for this mission is asteroid 2022 OB5, which has been identified as the focus of the Odin mission.
– According to The New York Times, the California-based aerospace company Astroforge had already sent a demonstration spacecraft into Earth’s orbit.
– Following that, the company has secured $55 million in funding.
– The company now plans to target a football-sized asteroid, 2022 OB5, located near Earth.
– If successful, this could be one of the biggest business ventures ever.
– The spacecraft was launched from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket along with a privately-built lunar lander and a lunar orbiter.
Preparing for the Third Asteroid Mission:
– The estimated cost of the Odin spacecraft is $6.5 million, and Astroforge is already planning its third asteroid mission, which is likely to take place at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026. The mission’s goal is to mine minerals from an asteroid.
How Many Days Will Odin Take to Reach the Asteroid?
– 2022 OB5 is an asteroid that is near Earth, with a diameter of 328 feet (100 meters), and it may be metallic.
– It will take Odin approximately 300 days to reach this small celestial body.
– This small spacecraft is flying to gather information about the asteroid and its suitability for mining. It is a preparation for even more daring missions in the future.
How Much Platinum is in the Asteroid?
– After 45 minutes of flight, Odin separated from the Falcon 9 and began its solo journey.
– The spacecraft’s mission is to take images of asteroid 2022 OB5 using black-and-white cameras from a distance of 0.6 miles. These images will help measure the asteroid’s density and metallic content.
– It is believed that this asteroid, classified as an M-type asteroid, could contain up to 117,000 tons of platinum.
What is Astroforge’s First Mission?
– According to *Space.com*, Astroforge’s first mission, Broker-1, reached orbit in April 2023, but was unable to activate the prototype refinery technology of the CubeSat.
– The second spacecraft from Astroforge is Odin, which was launched in February 2025.
What Are Asteroids?
– Asteroids are small, rock-like objects that constantly orbit the Sun.
– Asteroids typically orbit between the planets Mars and Jupiter.
– There are thousands of asteroids in our solar system.
– When an asteroid stays in space, it is called an asteroid, but once it enters Earth’s atmosphere, it is referred to as a meteorite.
Note: International Asteroid Day – June 30.
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5. Where was India’s largest global textile event ‘Bharat Tex 2025’ held?
a. Mumbai
b. New Delhi
c. Bengaluru
d. Hyderabad
Answer: b. New Delhi
– This event was held from February 14 to 17, 2025, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
– The event covered an area of 2.2 million square feet and featured more than 5,000 exhibitors, offering a comprehensive showcase of India’s textile ecosystem.
– It was attended by over 120,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries, including global CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders.
India’s Position as an Exporter.
– India is the world’s sixth-largest exporter of textiles, contributing 8.21% of the country’s total exports in 2023-24.
– This sector holds a 4.5% share in global trade, with the USA and the European Union accounting for 47% of India’s textile and garment exports.
Current Textile Exports:
– According to *The Hindu* newspaper, India’s current textile exports are worth ₹3 lakh crore. The goal is to triple this figure to ₹9 lakh crore.
Budget for the Ministry of Textiles:
– According to *The Hindu* newspaper, the central budget for 2025-26 has allocated ₹5,272 crore for the Ministry of Textiles, which is a 19% increase from the ₹4,417.03 crore budget estimate for the financial year 2024-25.
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6. Rat miners were also called in the rescue operation along with the country’s leading agencies to rescue 8 employees trapped in which tunnel of Telangana?
a. Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel
b. Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel
c. Silkyara Tunnel
d. Atal Tunnel
Answer: a. Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) Tunnel
Incident Summary:
-Tunnel Where Workers Got Trapped: The incident occurred in the Shri Shailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Nagar Kurnool district, Telangana.
– When Did the Landslide Happen?: The landslide occurred on February 22, 2025, at around 8:00 AM.
-How Many Workers Got Trapped?: Eight workers were trapped in the tunnel.
-Type of Tunnel Being Constructed**: An irrigation tunnel, which is said to be the longest irrigation tunnel in the world.
RAT Miners Involved in the Rescue Operation:
– Major national agencies involved in disaster rescue operations were continuously working 24/7 to save those trapped inside the tunnel.
– The same team that rescued people from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand (November 2023) was also involved in this rescue operation, which had successfully rescued 41 people from the Silkyara tunnel.
– Note: “RAT” refers to the practice of digging like rats, where miners enter holes to dig. “HOLE” refers to the small openings in the earth.
How the Incident Happened:
– On February 22, 2025, the incident took place in the construction tunnel of the SLBC project in Nagar Kurnool, Telangana.
– According to Glen, the project manager, 70 employees, including engineers, went into the tunnel as usual around 8:00 AM on February 22. Some workers were ahead, while others were behind. Those ahead were 13.5 kilometers inside the tunnel when a sudden rush of water caused a portion of the tunnel to collapse, trapping eight workers while others managed to escape.
– The trapped workers included two engineers, two technicians, and four laborers.
– The collapse was followed by a flow of water and mud into the tunnel, and the tunnel floor was found to have accumulated debris up to a height of 6 to 7 feet.
– According to The Hindu newspaper, the SLBC tunnel had a mud content of more than 70%.
SLBC Project Agreement in 2005:
– The decision to start the SLBC project was taken in 2005 by the government of former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
– The initial cost of the project was ₹4,600 crore.
– A 44-kilometer-long tunnel is being constructed, of which 35 kilometers have already been completed.
– The tunnel construction is located 400 meters below the Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
Project for Irrigation of Four Lakh Acres:
– Once completed, the SLBC project will provide water to irrigate 4 lakh acres of land in Nalgonda and Khammam districts, with a total of 30 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMCFT) of water. This will also be the longest irrigation tunnel in the world.
What is Rat Hole Mining?
– “Rat” refers to the rodent, “hole” means a small opening, and “mining” refers to excavation. It refers to the practice of digging small holes like rats to extract minerals.
– This technique is often used in coal mining in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya.
– Rat hole mining is highly dangerous, and workers involved often lack proper safety equipment.
– Challenges of Rat Hole Mining: It poses risks to both the safety of miners and environmental damage.
How Rat Mining is Done:
– Rat miners use tools like spades, trolleys (for removing debris), and manual drilling equipment.
– They wear masks and use a blower for airflow inside the mine.
– Two people enter the pipe—one digs, and the other removes debris.
– If larger rocks are encountered, drilling machines are used.
– Naseem and Nasir were part of the team led by Lawyer Hassan.
– One of the miners explained: “When we were manually drilling, 12 people were working, and it was difficult to remove debris, cut rods, and break large stones. The dust was affecting our eyes, and the heat from sweat made it hard to breathe.”
About Telangana:
– Capital: Hyderabad
– Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
– Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao
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7. When is the Foundation Day of Mizoram celebrated?
a. 21 February
b. 20 February
c. 19 February
d. 18 February
Answer: b. 20 February
Mizoram State Day – 20th February 2025:
– Mizoram celebrated its 38th State Day on 20th February 2025.
– Like many other northeastern states of India, Mizoram was part of Assam until 1972.
– In 1972, it became a Union Territory.
– On 20th February 1987, Mizoram was granted statehood, becoming the 23rd state of India.
– Mizoram is a northeastern state of India.
About Mizoram:
– Chief Ministe: Lal Thanhawla
– Capital: Aizawl
– Governo: V.K. Singh
– Neighboring States: Manipur, Assam, and Tripura
– Neighboring Countries: Myanmar, Bangladesh
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8. When is the Foundation Day of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated?
a. 22 February
b. 21 February
c. 20 February
d. 19 February
Answer: c. 20 February
– On 20th February 1987, Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged state.
– Until 1972, it was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).
About Arunachal Pradesh:
-Capital: Itanagar
– Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
– Governor: Kavlavy Trivikrama Parnaik
– Neighboring Countries: Bhutan, China, and Myanmar
– Neighboring State: Assam
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9. When is World NGO Day observed?
a. 25 February
b. 26 February
c. 27 February
d. 28 February
Answer: c. 27 February
-World NGO Day is celebrated every year on February 27.
– The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the contribution of NGOs to society.
– The United Nations, European Union, and international organizations** declared this day in 2014.
Theme:
– Empowering Grassroots Movements for a Sustainable Future
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