Current Affairs

CDS 20259 questions

1. Q1

   'Maitree' is a Joint Military Exercise between India and :

   • ABangladesh
   • BThailand
   • CMalaysia
   • DSri Lanka
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Thailand

   'Maitree' is the annual joint military exercise conducted between the armies of India and Thailand. It is not held with Bangladesh, Malaysia or Sri Lanka.

2. Q2

   Union Budget 2025 increased the Sectoral cap of FDI to 100 per cent from 74 per cent for :

   • ATelecom Sector
   • BPower Sector
   • CDefence Sector
   • DInsurance Sector
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) Insurance Sector

   The Union Budget 2025 raised the FDI sectoral cap in insurance from 74% to 100%. Hence the correct sector is Insurance (D), not telecom, power or defence.

3. Q3

   Which of the following statements about Tim Tim Tare (TTT) is/are correct ? 1. TTT is a pioneering initiative that aims at imparting essential life skills to adolescent students across India. 2. TTT is a pioneering initiative that aims at imparting vocational and technical skills to students across India. Select the answer using the code given below :

   • A1 only
   • B2 only
   • CBoth 1 and 2
   • DNeither 1 nor 2
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) 1 only

   Only statement 1 is correct (A). Tim Tim Tare is an initiative aimed at imparting essential life skills to adolescent students, not vocational/technical skills, so statement 2 is wrong.

4. Q4

   Which one of the following platforms marks a transformative step in India's immunization efforts by digitizing vaccination records for pregnant women and children up to 16 years ?

   • AU-WIN
   • BPM-ABHIM
   • CeSanjeevani
   • DFDSI
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) U-WIN

   U-WIN (A) is the digital platform that registers and digitises vaccination records for pregnant women and children up to 16 years, modelled on the Co-WIN system. PM-ABHIM is a health-infrastructure mission, eSanjeevani is a teleconsultation service, so they do not fit.

5. Q5

   Which one of the following statements about 'Nilgiri', 'Surat' and 'Vaghsheer' is correct?

   • AThese are Tiger Reserves in the state of Gujarat.
   • BThese are combatants commissioned by the Indian Navy.
   • CThese are Biodiversity parks maintained by the Indian Army.
   • DThese are Tiger Reserves maintained by the Indian Navy.
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) These are combatants commissioned by the Indian Navy.

   Nilgiri, Surat and Vagsheer are warships/combatants commissioned by the Indian Navy (INS Nilgiri frigate, INS Surat destroyer and INS Vagsheer submarine, all inducted in early 2025). They are not tiger reserves or biodiversity parks, so B is correct.

6. Q6

   Which one of the following military operations was not undertaken by India?

   • AOperation Ablaze
   • BOperation Spider's Web
   • COperation Trident
   • DOperation Bandar
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Operation Spider's Web

   Operation Ablaze (1965), Operation Trident (1971 naval strike on Karachi) and Operation Bandar (2019 Balakot airstrike) were all Indian operations. Operation Spider's Web was Ukraine's 2025 drone strike operation against Russian airbases, not an Indian operation, so B is the exception.

7. Q7

   Which of the following statements are correct about 'Arnala', an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft? 1. It is indigeneouly designed in India. 2. It is named after the historic Arnala fort located in Maharashtra. 3. It has been built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of GRSE with M/s L&T Shipyard. Select the answer using the code given below :

   • A1 and 2 only
   • B2 and 3 only
   • C1 and 3 only
   • D1, 2 and 3
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

   INS Arnala is India's first indigenously designed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, named after the historic Arnala fort near Vasai in Maharashtra, and built under a public-private partnership between GRSE and L&T Shipyard. All three statements are correct (D).

8. Q8

   Robert Prevost became the Catholic Pope after the death of Pope Francis. Which of the following statements is/are correct about him? 1. He will now be known as Leo XV. 2. He became the 271st Catholic Pope. 3. He is a dual citizen of the United States of America and Peru. Select the answer using the code given below :

   • A1 and 2
   • B2 and 3
   • C1 only
   • D3 only
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 3 only

   Robert Prevost took the name Leo XIV (not Leo XV) and is the 267th pope (not the 271st), so statements 1 and 2 are wrong. He does hold dual US and Peruvian citizenship, making only statement 3 correct (D).

9. Q9

   Which of the following statements about 'Alcatraz', which was recently in news, is/are correct? 1. It was once a defence fort on Alcatraz island of America. 2. It was once a prison on Alcatraz island of America. 3. It was once occupied by a group of native American students, known as 'Indians of all tribes'. Select the answer using the code given below :

   • A1 and 2 only
   • B2 and 3 only
   • C1, 2 and 3
   • D1 only
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) 1, 2 and 3

   Alcatraz island first served as a US military fort/defence installation, later became a notorious federal prison, and in 1969-71 was occupied by the Native American group 'Indians of All Tribes.' All three statements are correct (C).