SF Prep Notes

Current Affairs Quiz — 24 December 2025

Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.

7 days 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months All
10 news · 25 MCQs
Score: 0 / 0 attempted · 25 questions
Centre bans new mining leases across the entire Aravallis; ICFRE to widen no-mining zones
Q1 Advanced

Which body has the Environment Ministry asked to identify additional no-mining zones and prepare a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining for the Aravallis (December 2025)?

Show answer

Correct answer: A — Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education

PIB 2208234: MoEF&CC directed ICFRE to identify additional areas where mining should be prohibited while preparing the MPSM for the entire Aravalli region.

Q2

As described by the Environment Ministry in December 2025, the Aravalli Range stretches between:

Show answer

Correct answer: A — Gujarat and the National Capital Region

PIB 2208234: the Aravallis form a continuous geological ridge extending from Gujarat to the National Capital Region.

Q3 Advanced

Consider the following statements about the Centre's December 2025 directions on the Aravallis: 1. States must not grant any new mining leases anywhere in the Aravallis. 2. All mines already operating in the Aravallis must close immediately. 3. The Management Plan for Sustainable Mining will be placed in the public domain for consultation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Show answer

Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only

PIB 2208234: the ban covers grant of new mining leases and the MPSM will be placed in the public domain. Existing mines are to be regulated stringently in line with the Supreme Court's order, not closed, so statement 2 is wrong.

LVM3-M6 launches BlueBird Block-2, heaviest payload ever lifted from Indian soil
Q4

The BlueBird Block-2 satellite launched by LVM3-M6 on 24 December 2025 belongs to which company?

Show answer

Correct answer: C — AST SpaceMobile

ISRO and PIB 2208090: the mission launched the BlueBird Block-2 satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile under a commercial agreement with NSIL.

Q5 Advanced

Into which orbit did LVM3-M6 place the BlueBird Block-2 satellite?

Show answer

Correct answer: A — Low Earth Orbit

ISRO and The Hindu: LVM3-M6 placed BlueBird Block-2 in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Q6 Advanced

Consider the following statements about ISRO's LVM3: 1. LVM3-M6 was the sixth operational flight of LVM3. 2. LVM3's upper stage is the C25 cryogenic stage. 3. LVM3 can carry about 8,000 kg to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Show answer

Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only

ISRO: LVM3-M6 is the sixth operational flight and LVM3 has S200 strap-ons, an L110 core and a C25 cryogenic upper stage. Its GTO capability is 4,200 kg, so statement 3 is wrong.

National Consumer Day 2025 observed with theme 'Efficient and Speedy Disposal through Digital Justice'
Q7

What was the theme of National Consumer Day 2025, observed on 24 December 2025?

Show answer

Correct answer: B — Efficient and Speedy Disposal through Digital Justice

PIB 2208179: the theme for National Consumer Day 2025 was 'Efficient and Speedy Disposal through Digital Justice'.

Q8 Advanced

According to the Consumer Affairs Minister on National Consumer Day 2025, how much did the National Consumer Helpline secure in refunds between April and December 2025?

Show answer

Correct answer: C — ₹42.6 crore

PIB 2208179: the NCH facilitated refunds of ₹42.6 crore across 30 sectors by resolving over 63,800 refund grievances between April and December 2025. (₹2.13 crore is the CCPA's total penalties.)

SEBI approves NHAI's Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust as a public InvIT
Q9

Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), approved by SEBI as a public InvIT in December 2025, is sponsored by:

Show answer

Correct answer: B — National Highways Authority of India

PIB 2208143: NHAI-sponsored Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust has received SEBI approval as an InvIT.

Q10 Advanced

Which investor group is the NHAI's public InvIT, RIIT, primarily meant to target?

Show answer

Correct answer: C — Retail and domestic investors

PIB 2208143: the public InvIT creates a long-term investment instrument primarily targeting retail and domestic investors.

PESA Mahotsav 2025 concludes in Visakhapatnam on PESA Day; PESA Portal launched
Q11

Where was the two-day PESA Mahotsav held on 23–24 December 2025?

Show answer

Correct answer: C — Visakhapatnam

PIB 2208189: the two-day PESA Mahotsav (23–24 December 2025) was held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Q12 Advanced

How many states are listed as PESA States by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj?

Show answer

Correct answer: D — Ten

PIB 2208189: participants came from all ten PESA States — Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.

Q13 Advanced

Which of the following states is NOT a PESA State, as per the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (December 2025)?

Show answer

Correct answer: D — Karnataka

PIB 2208189: the ten PESA States are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana; Karnataka is not among them.

BIS standards for bomb disposal systems, electric tractors and agarbattis released on National Consumer Day
Q14 Advanced

Which Indian Standard released by BIS on National Consumer Day 2025 covers incense sticks (agarbatti)?

Show answer

Correct answer: D — IS 19412:2025

PIB 2208829: IS 19412:2025 – Incense Sticks (Agarbatti) — Specification was released on National Consumer Day 2025. IS 19445 is for bomb disposal systems and IS 19262 for electric tractors.

Q15 Advanced

The BIS standard IS 19445:2025 on bomb disposal systems was taken up at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs and which DRDO laboratory?

Show answer

Correct answer: A — Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory

PIB 2209191: formulation of IS 19445:2025 was initiated on a request from the MHA and the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), DRDO, which also convened the drafting panel.

Q16 Advanced

Consider the following statements about BIS standards released on National Consumer Day 2025: 1. IS 19412:2025 prohibits the use of certain insecticides such as permethrin and fipronil in agarbattis. 2. IS 19262:2025 is a test code for electric agricultural tractors. 3. IS 19412:2025 applies only to machine-made agarbattis. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Show answer

Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only

PIB 2208829 and 2209159: IS 19412 bans insecticides including permethrin and fipronil, and IS 19262 is the electric tractor test code. IS 19412 classifies agarbattis as machine-made, hand-made and traditional masala, so statement 3 is wrong.

Cabinet approves three Delhi Metro Phase V(A) corridors worth ₹12,014.91 crore
Q17 Advanced

Which Delhi Metro Phase V(A) corridor approved on 24 December 2025 will connect the Central Vista and Kartavya Bhawans?

Show answer

Correct answer: D — R.K. Ashram Marg – Indraprastha

PIB 2208096: the R.K. Ashram Marg–Indraprastha section (9.913 km) will provide Metro connectivity to the Central Vista area and all Kartavya Bhawans.

Q18 Advanced

What is the total length of the three Delhi Metro Phase V(A) corridors approved by the Cabinet in December 2025?

Show answer

Correct answer: B — 16.076 km

PIB 2208096: the three corridors together make up 16.076 km. (111 km is Phase-IV, now under construction.)

Q19 Advanced

Consider the following statements about Delhi Metro Phase V(A) approved in December 2025: 1. Its total cost is ₹12,014.91 crore. 2. The new sections extend the Magenta Line and the Golden Line. 3. All 13 new stations will be elevated. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Show answer

Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only

PIB 2208096: the cost is ₹12,014.91 crore and the extensions are of the Magenta and Golden Lines. Of the 13 stations, 10 will be underground and 3 elevated, so statement 3 is wrong.

CAQM revokes GRAP Stage-IV in NCR as Delhi's AQI improves to 271
Q20 Advanced

GRAP Stage-IV, revoked across the NCR on 24 December 2025, had been invoked on 13 December 2025 when Delhi's average AQI crossed:

Show answer

Correct answer: D — 450

PIB 2208266: the Commission invoked Stage-IV on 13 December 2025 when Delhi's average AQI breached the 450 mark; it was revoked when the AQI improved to 271.

Q21

Which body revoked GRAP Stage-IV restrictions across the NCR on 24 December 2025?

Show answer

Correct answer: B — Commission for Air Quality Management

PIB 2208266: the Sub-Committee on GRAP of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) revoked Stage-IV.

Kerala Cabinet approves permanent photo nativity card in principle
Q22 Advanced

In December 2025, which state's Cabinet approved in principle a permanent, photo-embedded nativity card to replace the nativity certificate?

Show answer

Correct answer: C — Kerala

The Hindu and ABP Live (PTI): the Kerala Cabinet gave in-principle approval on 24 December 2025 for a permanent nativity card with a photo.

Q23

Which Kerala department was asked to draft the law giving legal validity to the proposed nativity card?

Show answer

Correct answer: B — Revenue Department

The Hindu and ABP Live (PTI): the Revenue Department was tasked with preparing a draft law, in consultation with the Law Department.

Coal Minister reviews Revised Jharia Master Plan rehabilitation at Belgaria township
Q24 Advanced

The Revised Jharia Master Plan, reviewed by the Coal Minister in December 2025, mainly addresses which problems in the Jharia Coalfield?

Show answer

Correct answer: B — Mine fires, land subsidence and rehabilitation

PIB 2208187: the RJMP, approved by the CCEA on 25 June 2025, aims to address mine fires, land subsidence and rehabilitation in the Jharia Coalfield.

Q25 Advanced

Under the Revised Jharia Master Plan, which body rehabilitates non-BCCL families from endangered areas?

Show answer

Correct answer: D — Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority

PIB 2208187: rehabilitation of non-BCCL families is undertaken by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) under the State Government, while BCCL rehabilitates families within its operational areas.