Ans> (a) 6th

💡 About the World Air Quality Report:

* Publisher: Published annually by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.

* Key Metric: The report evaluates air quality primarily based on the concentration of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter).

* Health Impact: High levels of PM2.5 are dangerous and linked to severe respiratory and cardiovascular health issues globally.

* Most Polluted Countries:
1. Pakistan
2. Bangladesh
3. Tajikistan
4. Chad
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ans> (a) Seven

💡 About the Empowered Committees:

* Objective: Formed under PM Narendra Modi’s direction to handle the economic and strategic fallout of the escalating West Asia crisis.

* Sectors Covered: The 7 specific panels cover defense & external affairs, economy & finance, energy security (oil/LNG), agriculture (fertilizers), essential commodities, transport & logistics, and information & communication.

* Significance: Aims to ensure real-time monitoring, protect global supply chains, manage crude oil price volatility, and safeguard national security.

Ans> (c) Matt Brittin

💡 Key Highlights:

* Full Form: Board of Control for Cricket in India.

* Establishment: Founded in December 1928 as a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.

* Headquarters: Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Ans> (b) Article 341

💡 About Article 341 & SC Status:

* Presidential Power: Article 341(1) empowers the President of India to specify the castes, races, or tribes that shall be deemed as Scheduled Castes in a State or Union Territory.

* Parliament’s Role: Under Article 341(2), only the Parliament has the power to include or exclude any caste from the list of Scheduled Castes originally notified by the President.

* Conversion Context: Historically, Presidential orders have restricted SC status to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism, making religious conversion a complex legal issue regarding the retention of SC benefits.

Ans> (d) Leh (Ladakh)

💡 Project Highlights:

* Name: It is called the “Indus River Green Corridor Eco-Restoration Plantation,” specifically launched at Spituk Pharka in Leh.

* Objective: To restore the ecological integrity of the Indus riverbanks, prevent soil erosion, and create green buffers in the fragile cold desert landscape.

* Action: Thousands of saplings of indigenous plant species (like Sea buckthorn, Willow, and Black Poplar) are being planted through community and administrative collaboration.

Ans> (c) New Delhi

💡 About the 9th PharmaMed 2026:

* Organizers: Hosted by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in association with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).

* Theme: “Healthcare Equity: Reaching Every Citizen of Viksit Bharat.”

* Objective: To bring together policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to deliberate on India’s pharmaceutical transition towards an innovation-driven and globally competitive healthcare ecosystem.

Ans> (a) Operation Urja Suraksha

💡 About the Operation:

* Objective: Launched by the Indian Navy to ensure the safe transit of Indian-flagged merchant vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

* Context: The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil trade. Heightened tensions in the region prompted the need for dedicated maritime security to protect India’s energy supply chains (“Urja Suraksha” translates to Energy Security).

* Action: The operation involves the deployment of naval assets to monitor the situation, provide armed escorts, and deter any potential maritime threats to commercial shipping.

Ans> (b) Delhi

💡 About the ‘Anmol’ Scheme:

* Objective: Launched by the Delhi government, this scheme provides free genetic testing for newborn babies to ensure early detection and intervention for rare genetic disorders.

* Significance: Early screening helps in preventing severe mental or physical disabilities and significantly reduces the infant mortality rate linked to hereditary diseases.

* Implementation: The initiative is aimed at making expensive genetic tests accessible to all, primarily covering deliveries taking place in public health facilities.

Ans> (c) 27 March

💡 About World Theatre Day:

* Initiated By: It was established in 1948 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI).

* Significance: The day is celebrated globally to raise awareness about the importance of theatre arts, its role in entertainment, and its impact on society.

* Key Event: A hallmark of the celebration is the circulation of the “World Theatre Day Message,” usually authored by a highly recognized global theatre personality.

Ans> (c) Spacetime 4D

💡 Key Highlights:

* Developer: The Akasha300 is a state-of-the-art 3D printer developed by the deep-tech company Spacetime 4D.

* Significance: It highlights the growing strength of indigenous additive manufacturing (3D printing) ecosystems within the country.

* Applications: Advanced 3D printers like this are crucial for developing complex, lightweight, and highly durable components used in aerospace, defense, and high-end industrial sectors.

Ans> (a) Industrial infrastructure and investment

💡 About the Policy:

* Objective: The policy is specifically designed to boost the state’s industrial ecosystem by creating world-class industrial parks and attracting robust domestic and foreign private investments.

* Focus Areas: It emphasizes the development of core infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and providing competitive incentives for businesses to set up manufacturing units.

* Economic Impact: By focusing on industrial infrastructure, the state aims to generate significant employment opportunities and accelerate overall economic growth.

Ans> (b) Baranica Elangovan

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Record: Tamil Nadu athlete Baranica Elangovan cleared a height of 4.22m at the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

* Previous Benchmark: She surpassed the previous overall national record of 4.21m set by her state-mate Rosy Meena Paulraj in 2022.

* Comeback: Her record-breaking performance is especially notable as she successfully bounced back from a major ACL reconstructive surgery a few years ago to achieve this milestone.

Ans> (a) GARBH-INi

💡 Key Details:

* The Initiative: The GARBH-INi (interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on BirtH outcomes) program is supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.

* AI Model: Under this initiative, researchers developed ‘Garbhini-GA2’, an India-specific artificial intelligence model designed to accurately determine the gestational age of a fetus.

* Impact: This indigenous tool aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by enabling better, timely care for pregnant women and predicting the risks of premature deliveries.

Ans> (d) Delhi

💡 Event Highlights:

* Objective: To showcase regional, national, and international cinema, fostering global cultural exchange and boosting local tourism.

* Context: While states like Goa (home to IFFI) and Maharashtra (MAMI) have long-established and famous international film festivals, this marks a major new milestone for the hosting region to build its own global cinematic platform.

Ans> (b) Narendra Modi, India

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Ranking: Prime Minister Narendra Modi topped the global approval rating list released by Morning Consult, a US-based global decision intelligence firm.

* The Score: He secured a solid 68% approval rating, comfortably surpassing other major global leaders evaluated in the survey.

* Significance: This consistently high ranking reflects his sustained popularity and strong public mandate both domestically and on the global stage.

Ans> (b) Sanjay Raut

💡 About the Book & Author:

* Author: Sanjay Raut is a prominent Indian politician, journalist, and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra.

* Context: The launch of the book was a significant recent event attended by several prominent political figures, making it a key current affairs topic.

* Focus: His writings typically offer sharp political commentary and insights into the socio-political dynamics of the region.

Ans> (c) Iran conflict causing fuel crisis

💡 Key Context:

* Vulnerability: The Philippines is heavily reliant on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products to meet its domestic energy needs.

* The Crisis: Escalating geopolitical tensions and conflicts in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, severely disrupted global supply chains and spiked oil prices.

* The Response: The national emergency was declared to implement strict energy conservation measures, manage dwindling fuel reserves, and mitigate the severe economic impact on ordinary citizens.

Ans> (b) Stuti Pradhan

💡 Key Highlights:

* Selection: Stuti Pradhan was chosen through a rigorous nationwide selection process to represent the voices and perspectives of Indian youth.

* The Event: The World Youth Parliament is a prestigious global forum where young leaders convene to discuss critical issues like climate change, education, and global policy.

* Significance: Her participation underscores India’s growing focus on youth leadership and international diplomacy on the global stage.

Ans> (a) IIT Delhi

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Ranking: IIT Delhi emerged as the top-ranked Indian institute in the globally recognized QS World University Rankings for the year 2026.

* Evaluation Criteria: The QS rankings evaluate universities based on rigorous parameters including academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact (citations per faculty).

* Significance: Securing this top position highlights the institution’s growing global footprint, research excellence, and the high employability of its graduates.

Ans> (a) Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay

💡 About the Saraswati Samman:

* Instituted By: It was instituted in 1991 by the K.K. Birla Foundation.

* Eligibility: Given annually for outstanding prose or poetry literary works in any of the 22 languages of India listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution, published in the last 10 years.

* Prize: The award carries a plaque, a citation, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.