PDF Download: Click here
1. In which area did the Supreme Court impose a fine of Rs 1 lakh per tree, saying that cutting down 454 trees is worse than killing a human being?
a. Taj Trapezium Zone
b. National Capital Region
c. Mumbai
d. Vidarbha
Answer: a. Taj Trapezium Zone
– The Supreme Court has accepted the report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
– The report recommended imposing a fine of one lakh rupees per tree for the 454 trees cut by an individual named Shivshankar Agrawal at the Dalmia Farm in Mathura-Vrindavan.
– The bench of Judges Abhay S. Oka and Ujjwal Bhuiyan stated, “There should be no leniency in environmental matters. Cutting a large number of trees is worse than killing a human being.”
– Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Shivshankar Agrawal, stated that his client had admitted the mistake, but the court refused to reduce the fine amount.
– The court said that Shivshankar Agrawal should be allowed to plant trees at a nearby location.
– The contempt petition filed against him will be disposed of only after compliance.
– The court also revoked its 2019 order, which had removed the requirement of prior permission for cutting trees on non-forest and private land within the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).
This is the Taj Trapezium Zone:
– The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) is a protected area of 10,400 square kilometers surrounding the Taj Mahal and other heritage monuments in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
– It was established to prevent pollution and environmental degradation that could jeopardize these historical sites.
– In 1996, the court directed large-scale plantation within the TTZ.
————–
2. When is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed?
a. 23 March
b. 24 March
c. 25 March
d. 26 March
Answer: c. 25 March
– The United Nations observes this International Day annually on March 25.
– This day is marked on the anniversary of the kidnapping of Alec Collett.
– He was a former journalist who was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees.
– He was kidnapped by armed gunmen in 1985, and his body was later found in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon a few years later.
– The purpose of celebrating this day is to call for action and justice for the protection of UN personnel, peacekeepers, as well as our colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press.
————–
3. Which state government has made registration of all pregnant women compulsory?
a. Punjab
b. Haryana
c. Rajasthan
d. Karnataka
Answer: b. Haryana
– The Haryana Health Department has made it mandatory for all pregnant women to register during the first trimester, as per an order issued in March 2025.
– The order, issued by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), aims to achieve 100% registration of pregnant women.
– This is a significant improvement from the current registration rates of 50-80% in various districts.
– The order states that ultrasound centers will have to register pregnant women before conducting the scan, and failure to comply will result in a notice being sent.
Why was this decision taken?
– A decline in the sex ratio at birth has been observed in Haryana.
– In 2024, the sex ratio at birth fell to 910, the lowest level in eight years.
– The state had achieved a significant milestone in 2016 when the sex ratio surpassed 900 for the first time in two decades, reaching 914.
– Before the recent decline, it had reached 923 in 2019.
Why is there concern over this decision?
– Doctors and human rights experts have expressed concerns that this decision may infringe on privacy and conflict with the existing laws on abortion.
– They argue that it may have unintended consequences, such as forcing women to seek unsafe abortions outside the formal healthcare system.
Haryana:
– CM: Nayab Singh Saini
– Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
– Capital: Chandigarh
————–
4. When is the Purple Day of Epilepsy Awareness observed?
a. 25 March
b. 26 March
c. 27 March
d. 28 March
Answer: b. 26 March
– Purple Day is an international awareness day dedicated to raising awareness about epilepsy.
– Epilepsy is a condition related to the brain’s central nervous system, which causes seizures in patients. – As a result, the person may lose consciousness or exhibit abnormal behavior for a short period of time.
– Around 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, with 10 million of them living in India.
————–
5. The President of which country has made it mandatory for citizens to provide proof of citizenship for voter registration? India’s election system was also mentioned in this order.
a. Brazil
b. Canada
c. America
d. Britain
Answer: c. America
– On March 25, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order related to changes in the electoral process.
– Under this order, U.S. citizens will be required to provide proof of citizenship for voter registration.
– The purpose of this is to curb the inclusion of illegal immigrants on voter lists.
– Currently, many states in the U.S. do not require a passport or birth certificate for voter registration.
– Trump had attributed his loss in the 2020 elections to alleged voter fraud.
– However, states are preparing to challenge Trump’s order in court.
Different Voting Rules in Each State:
– In the U.S., each state has its own laws regarding voting. States like Texas, Georgia, and Indiana have very strict voting processes.
– In these states, it is mandatory to show a photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) to vote.
– On the other hand, states like California, New York, and Illinois allow voting by providing your name and address or by showing documents like an electricity bill.
– Additionally, in states like Michigan, a photo ID is required for voting. If someone does not have one, they can sign an affidavit to vote.
4 Key Points of the Executive Order:
– Proof of Citizenship Required: Voters will need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or driver’s license, to vote.
– Appeal for Cooperation from States: The order appeals to states to cooperate by sharing voter lists with the federal government and assisting in investigations of election-related crimes.
– Mail-in Ballot Deadline: Mail-in ballots received after the election will be considered invalid.
– Funding Cuts for Non-Compliance: States that do not comply with these new rules may face cuts in federal funding assistance.
————–
6. When is World Theater Day celebrated?
a. 25 March
b. 26 March
c. 27 March
d. 28 March
Answer: c. 27 March
– World Theatre Day is celebrated since 1962.
– The purpose of the day is to promote the importance of the art form “Theatre”.
————–
7. Name the winner of Abel Prize 2025 for pioneering scientific achievements in mathematics?
a. Niels Henrik
b. Masaaki Kashiwara
c. Anurag Verma
d. Richard Chowdhury
Answer: b. Masaaki Kashiwara (Japanese mathematician)
– The Abel Prize is often considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
– The prize includes a sum of 7.5 million Norwegian Krone (approximately 720,000 USD) and a glass plaque designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Hauge.
What is the Abel Prize?
– The Abel Prize “recognizes outstanding scientific achievements in mathematics.”
– It is named after the Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), who made pioneering contributions in several areas during his short life.
– The prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2002, on the 200th anniversary of Abel’s birth.
– It is said that the idea for the prize was first proposed in 1899 by Norwegian mathematician Sophus Lie, who discovered that no award for mathematics was included in the annual Nobel Prizes. However, this plan never came to fruition.
– The Abel Prize is awarded and administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on behalf of the Norwegian government.
– The selection of the winners is made by a specialized committee appointed by the academy, based on advice from the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the European Mathematical Society (EMS).
Why was the award given?
– In recent years, Masaki Kashiwara has “reshaped and deeply enriched the fields of representation theory, in its many forms, and algebraic analysis.”
————–
8. Name the winner of Sangeet Kalanidhi Award 2025?
a. Rakesh Asthana
b. Vivek Bindra
c. Krishnachari Ramamurthy
d. Rudrapatna Krishnamurthy Sriramkumar
Answer: d. Rudrapatna Krishnamurthy Sriramkumar (RK Sriramkumar)
– This prestigious award is given by the Madras Music Academy, Chennai.
– Sangeet Kalanidhi, which means ‘Treasure of Music and Art’, is the highest honor in Carnatic music.
– It is awarded annually by the Madras Music Academy, one of the oldest academies for Carnatic music in India.
– Rudrapatna Krishnamurthy Sriramkumar is a violinist and musician.
– Sriramkumar began his musical journey at the age of 15, studying Carnatic music with renowned vocalist N. Vijay Shiva, who was a disciple of both Jayaraman and Pattammal.
————–
9. Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India this year
– Both sides are making necessary preparations for the upcoming visit.
– Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made this announcement on March 27, 2025.
– In his statement, Lavrov announced, “Russian President Putin has accepted the invitation of the head of the Indian government.”
– This will be President Putin’s first visit to India since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022.
– He had made a brief visit to India on December 6, 2021, for the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia for the 22nd Annual India-Russia Summit on July 8-9, 2024. After that, he attended the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, where he met President Putin.
– During this visit, the Indian Prime Minister had extended an invitation to President Putin to visit India.
————–
10. The film ‘Ajay – The Untold Story of a Yogi’ is the biopic of which politician?
a. Devendra Fadnavis
b. Himanta Biswa Sarma
c. Mohan Yadav
d. Yogi Adityanath
Answer: d. Yogi Adityanath
– A biopic of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is being made.
– The first look was released on March 26, 2025.
– The motion poster showcases the inspiring transformation of Yogi Adityanath, highlighting the moments that shaped his spiritual and political journey.
– It depicts his early years, his decision to take sanyas as a Nathpant yogi, and his emergence as a politician and leader.
– The film is inspired by Shantanu Gupta’s book ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’.
– Anant Joshi will be seen portraying the role of Yogi Adityanath.
– The film also features Paresh Rawal, Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’, Ajay Menghi, Pawan Malhotra, Garima Singh, and Rajesh Khattar in key roles.
PDF Download: Click here
