February 03, 2025 Current Affairs (English)

February 03, 2025 Current Affairs (English)

1. Which state accounts for nearly 90% of India’s total Makhana production?

A) Punjab
B) Assam
C) Bihar
D) West Bengal

Answer: C) Bihar

2. Why is Makhana also known as the ‘Black Diamond’?

A) Due to its high market price
B) Because of its dark outer layer
C) Because it is found only in deep waters
D) Due to its high mineral content

Answer: B) Because of its dark outer layer

3. What is the main objective of the newly established Makhana Board in Bihar?

A) To regulate the domestic consumption of Makhana
B) To increase investment in food processing and boost exports
C) To ban the import of foreign Makhana varieties
D) To convert Makhana fields into fish farming areas

Answer: B) To increase investment in food processing and boost exports

4. Under which government scheme is Makhana recognized as a product for special promotion?

A) National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP)
B) One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme
C) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
D) Make in India Initiative

Answer: B) One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme

5. What is the primary objective of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Amendment Rules, 2025?

A) To make Aadhaar authentication mandatory for all transactions
B) To enhance transparency and inclusivity in governance and service delivery
C) To allow unrestricted access to Aadhaar data by private entities
D) To remove biometric authentication from Aadhaar

Answer: B) To enhance transparency and inclusivity in governance and service delivery

6. Which Supreme Court ruling struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, disallowing private entities from using Aadhaar authentication services?

A) K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017)
B) Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2018)
C) Minerva Mills v. Union of India (1980)
D) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973)

Answer: B) Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2018)

7. Under which section of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, can the government mandate Aadhaar for accessing subsidies, benefits, and services?

A) Section 3
B) Section 7
C) Section 57
D) Section 10

Answer: B) Section 7

8. What is one of the key privacy safeguards related to Aadhaar metadata as per the Supreme Court ruling?

A) UIDAI can store Aadhaar authentication data indefinitely
B) Aadhaar metadata must be retained for at least five years
C) UIDAI cannot store Aadhaar authentication data for more than six months
D) Aadhaar metadata can be shared with third-party companies

Answer: C) UIDAI cannot store Aadhaar authentication data for more than six months

9. In which Indian state does the Palar River originate?

A) Tamil Nadu
B) Karnataka
C) Andhra Pradesh
D) Kerala

Answer: B) Karnataka

10. Which major tributary of the Palar River originates in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh?

A) Cheyyar River
B) Ponni River
C) Vaigai River
D) Thamirabarani River

Answer: B) Ponni River

11. What is the primary environmental concern raised by the Supreme Court regarding the Palar River?

A) Excessive dam construction reducing water flow
B) Unchecked dumping of untreated effluents by tanneries
C) Large-scale deforestation along the riverbanks
D) Sand mining affecting the riverbed

Answer: B) Unchecked dumping of untreated effluents by tanneries

12. Under which scheme are gig workers now eligible for healthcare benefits as per the Union Budget announcement?

A) Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana
B) Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
C) National Rural Health Mission
D) Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS)

Answer: B) Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)

13. What is the maximum annual health coverage provided under PM-JAY for eligible beneficiaries?

A) ₹2 lakh per year
B) ₹3 lakh per year
C) ₹5 lakh per year
D) ₹10 lakh per year

Answer: C) ₹5 lakh per year

14. What is the primary purpose of the e-Shram portal for gig workers?

A) To provide employment opportunities in government jobs
B) To register informal sector workers for accessing government welfare schemes
C) To regulate private companies hiring gig workers
D) To provide direct financial assistance to gig workers

Answer: B) To register informal sector workers for accessing government welfare schemes

15. What is the new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector as announced in the Union Budget?

A) 49%
B) 74%
C) 100%
D) 60%

Answer: C) 100%

16. What is the primary objective of increasing FDI in the insurance sector?

A) To nationalize all private insurance companies
B) To boost insurance penetration and attract foreign investments
C) To increase government control over insurance companies
D) To eliminate private insurers from the Indian market

Answer: B) To boost insurance penetration and attract foreign investments

17. Which legislative acts require amendments to implement the FDI hike in the insurance sector?

A) Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI Act, 1992
B) Insurance Act, 1938 and Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956
C) Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and FEMA Act, 1999
D) GST Act, 2017 and Consumer Protection Act, 2019

Answer: B) Insurance Act, 1938 and Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956

18. What is the projected annual growth rate of India’s insurance sector from 2024 to 2028?

A) 5.2%
B) 9.5%
C) 11.1%
D) 15.3%

Answer: C) 11.1%

19. What is the main objective of the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’?

A) To increase exports of pulses to global markets
B) To achieve self-reliance in pulses production and reduce import dependency
C) To promote pulses cultivation only in southern India
D) To increase foreign direct investment in the pulses sector

Answer: B) To achieve self-reliance in pulses production and reduce import dependency

20. Which organizations are responsible for MSP-based procurement of pulses under this mission?

A) Food Corporation of India (FCI) and NITI Aayog
B) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Ministry of Finance
C) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF)
D) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Ministry of Science & Technology

Answer: C) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF)

21. Which pulse is mainly imported from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Myanmar?

A) Chana (Chickpea)
B) Urad (Black Gram)
C) Masoor (Red Lentil)
D) Tur/Arhar (Pigeon Pea)

Answer: D) Tur/Arhar (Pigeon Pea)